The Great Warrior of Cosmo Canyon

Chapter 1: The Calm Before the Storm

"My father? A great warrior and the savior of Cosmo Canyon? I don't believe it! He was a coward…" Red XIII paused as he looked up at the stone statue of the man who was once his father. "He ran away from the battle, left the people of the canyon defenseless, and left mother for dead. I could never look up to that sort of person…"

"Ho ho, Nanaki…That is not the case at all. You do not know the entire story." Turning to Tifa and Cloud, "Cloud, would you mind giving us a little time alone please?" Cloud and Tifa looked at each other, and turned to walk out of the cavern. "Now Nanaki let me tell you the truth about Seto…"

Cosmo Canyon glittered with life that night; candle light could be seen through the hut windows from up on the hill where Seto sat, keeping a close watch on his home town. The cool canyon breeze raced through his red fur, giving him an unsettling cold feeling.

"Hmm, something doesn't seem right this evening…why am I having this unsettling feeling? Everything seems peaceful in town, and there is no movement outlying the area. But still…something…"

"Seto?" Kasei1, Seto's love, walked up from behind with a worried look on her face.

"Oh, I am sorry dear. It is late isn't it? I should have come home sooner." he looked down back at the canyon. "The view is gorgeous isn't it?"

"Yes, Seto, it is. Now please, come home. You have been up here all day and all night long. The canyon can sleep peacefully, and you as well need rest. Also, your son is anxious to see you."

"Nanaki is waiting for me?" Looking puzzled for a moment, Seto finally realized what she was hinting at. "I completely forgot our hunting exercises today, didn't I? He was really looking forward to it. Okay, let us head back now, I will see if Nanaki is still up." Turning back to look at the canyon, Seto gave a slight sigh and began back home with his mate.

The family's little hut was small, but big enough for the three of them to live in. It was made out of reeds from the outlying area trees, and there where occasional Chocobo feathers littered around the hut, and stuffed in the pads of their beds. When Seto returned, he could see a faint little candle lit in the hut, suggesting that his son was still awake. He crept inside and saw Nanaki crouched in a corner, as still as a rock. Without warning, the young warrior leaped to the other side of the room with a powerful movement of his legs, leaving his father with a smile on his face.

"You sure are getting good at those leaps; no prey will be able to escape you after just a bit more practice!" Seto said, admiring his son for trying so hard.

"Father, you have returned! You forgot our hunting exercises this afternoon, so I have to practice on my own. Mother watched me and helped me out a little, but I was hoping to learn a great deal more from you! After dinner can we go out back so you can teach me? Please!"

Nanaki always looked up to his father, since he was the watcher and protector of the canyon. He always wanted to grow up to be just like Seto one day. Seto knew this, and was touched that his son admired him so. "Very well Nanaki, after dinner I will teach you some more attacks, but then afterwards it is to bed with you, understand?"

That night the three of them ate a wonderful meal, supplied by the canyon's people, showing their gratitude of Seto protecting them all these years. After dinner, Seto took Nanaki outside to give him his hunting lessons that he promised. Nanaki listened well to every word of advice his wise father had to tell him, and followed his every instruction.

"Now Nanaki, remember that you must strike hard at your prey, or it may get away or worse, turn on you and attack. Remember that being strong counts for nothing if you are reckless."

"Yes, father." Nanaki thought for a moment about what his father had just said. He thought that being strong meant that you could win against any opponent, just like his father, but apparently he was wrong. Now he held this new knowledge in his heart, knowing that it would remain with him until the day he returned to the planet.

After a long night of hunting tactics, it was finally time to head back home. "Now just remember what I taught you tonight Nanaki and you will become the greatest warrior of all time."

"Yes, father, I won't forget a word. Thank you for your words of wisdom," Nanaki said, feeling pleased with himself.

"Now remember what we had agreed upon before coming out here?" Seto looked at his son with a smirk on his mug.

Nanaki sighs, "Yes sir…time to go to bed…Goodnight father!"

Seto looked at Nanaki and said "Goodnight, son…" The rest of the night was quiet and peaceful. Seto went back to the summit to watch the canyon again and eventually fell asleep.

The next morning brought a terrible omen. Seto awoke to notice that the town's people were gathering in the center of the canyon. He quickly leaped up off the ground and went running down the summit to find out what was going on. Once in town, he saw Bugenhagen standing among the group.

"Bugenhagen, what has happened? Why are the people gathered around here…?" Just then the crowd parted and revealed the cause of the commotion…a body. The body of one of the elders of the canyon lied before everyone, struck with three arrows. Arrows that apparently had some sort of poison. The elder had no chance at all…his death was instantaneous.

Seto stared at the body as rage and anger built up throughout his body. "What was responsible for this horrific site?" demanded the fired up beast.

"Ho ho, we are not entirely sure…but I do have a thought in the matter. I fear that this is the work of the Gi Tribe…" Pausing for a moment, the elder continued. "Many millennia ago my people faced these demons in an all out war for our home. Unfortunately, we did not have the means or the manpower to defeat these cursed beasts. My home fell, and not one of my tribe survived except for me…"

"And you think that it was a Gi that murdered this poor man, Bugenhagen?" Seto growled relentlessly.

"Unfortunately, yes."

Panic began to run through the canyon, as people started spreading rumors of the canyon's demise and that they were all doomed. Then one person yelled "What are we to do then elder! If you could not defeat them, what hope do we have against them? Is our beautiful canyon going to fall to these evil creatures too?"

Seto then interrupted the man and stated, "Listen, people of Cosmo Canyon! We shall not give into these damned beasts for as long as there is a breath of life in each of us. I personally will see to the protection of all of you and this canyon, also my home. We must all prepare for what lies ahead. Whether it be life or death. And if it be death, then we shall return to the planet, bring with us our courage and strength, thus letting the planet grow stronger. But we cannot loose hope now!"

With that the canyon exploded with life as cheers echoed all already, and then Seto joined in and started to howl with all his might. Darkness fell that night over the canyon like a heavy brick, and even though the people had their spirits lifted, it was still unsettling for them; not knowing what the dawn would bring, and if, no, when the enemy would strike their home.

"Father, what is happening? Are we all going to die? I'm scared," Nanaki whimpered to Seto that night.

Seto, calming his son down said, "Don't worry son, I will not let anything happen to you, your mother, or anyone else in the canyon. I promise…I will protect everyone from the Gi… I must…."

With his words of assurance, Nanaki fell fast asleep, curled up on his cot. Seto covered him with a blanket, whispering "I love you, son" into his ear. Seto then went over and curled up next to Kasei by the fire. "My love, I do not know what tomorrow brings for us all, but just know that I will always be here for you, no matter what. We will always be together, you and I."

Tears began to fall from her eyes "I know dear, I am just so afraid. I do not want to lose you, or Nanaki. I wouldn't be able to go on living without you two. I pray nothing will happen…"

"As do I…as do I…" Seto replied.

The following morning came, and no attack yet. Bugenhagen, Seto, and Kasei met early, at the same time that the fresh dew on the summer leaves began to drip off down to the earth. They discussed possible tactics and ways to defeat the Gi Tribe when they attacked.

"Ho ho! The biggest problem will be dealing with the demon's poison arrows. They are very deadly, as you can tell from yesterday's example. Just one can kill you very quickly. There must be a way to neutralize it somehow," Bugenhagen stated.

Seto then added, "I agree, but what about their tactics for fighting? You have seen them in combat personally elder, what can you tell us that might give us an edge?"

"Ho hooo, yes there is something that might be useful to us. When the Gi attacked my home, they attacked from two points; one from right out in the open, and the other was a secret entrance into the village. We had the first entrance covered, but we were completely oblivious to the secret path. So I think that…"

"The canyon's sanctuary!" Seto abruptly interrupted. "The sanctuary deep in the heart of Cosmo Canyon would be the ideal place for the Gi to come from. No one knows of its existence except for the elders and us. Even the rest of the townspeople don't know about it. We will have to barricade that entrance so that they cannot penetrate the canyon from that side."

"I agree, but a simple barricade will not hold them. The Gi Tribe has summoning powers too. It would not be long before they destroyed the wall and infiltrate the canyon. It is too risky!"

Seto sat starring blindly at the campfire. "Then we will have to put guards and soldiers in the sanctuary and make sure the Gi do not get through…we would then have to seal the cave entrance once the warriors were inside…" As the words came out of his mouth, Seto himself could not believe what he was saying. Sacrificing others for the good of the whole? There has to be another way… he thought.

Kasei stared at him for a minute, then said "Seto, we cannot do that to others. It would be suicide. No one here will stand a chance against those devils! I think we may have to abandon the canyon. At least we will still have our lives and…" Seto cut off her idea and then suddenly said.

"I will go into the sanctuary myself. Bugenhagen, I want you to seal the cavern entrance and never open it again. Do not tell a soul about it either." He looked over to see a broken expression on Kasei's face.

"It's the only way, my love. I have to do it. Remember, we will always be together…Forever…"

1 Kasei – this a word in Japanese that means "fire born." I was looking around for an appropriate name for Red XIII's mother, since the game does not state it. I thought this would suit her, seeing that apparently Red's race seems to have like a glowing flame on their tales, and this just struck me as the sort of name that could fit her character.