Craggy mountain peaks towered over her, giant natural castle turrets through which the sun's rays brightly glimmer. Purple hued mist rising and twining around its spires. Here is where it all begins, doesn't it? Mist erupts into singeing flame, blazing out of control. Screams of the damned echoing in her ears. Screams that won't stop. Screams that will never leave her mind, no matter how hard she tries to block them out. Violent cascades of bright crimson pooling, as the screams continue. Blood that soaks into the very earth, making her as impure a thing as the disease that writhes within her. Why won't they stop? Sudden silence comes at her command. Gazing upward, the dreamer gasps at the sky, all lit with stars. They twinkle in the midnight sky, so bright and clear, like diamonds set in deep blue velvet. Never had the sky shown her such beauty, never had she seen with such clarity. There is another with her, a girl, around her own age. Perhaps younger. This girl, this fighter with long dark hair. She watches the stars as the dreamer does. Her back turned, eyes gazing up at the unknowable heavens. Promise me you'll come back for me. It's my dream.....for you to rescue me. A nod. Platinum blonde hair, dyed. Large sword spinning. It's too big for him. Who am I? Am I SOLDIER? Pure ocean blue eyes, glowing with mako. Spiky haired asshole. Who the fuck do you think you are? I should....the deep baritone tapers off, his voice thickly accented. A towering man with one arm. A meeting by accident. An explosion. Be watchful and take heed dreamer. An exhilarating rush as she fell towards the earth, an angel sent from heaven. Wake up.
Aeris woke with a start, as if she'd been pushed from a great height and had only just steadied herself. Her eyes languidly adjusting to new wakefulness. She wiped a hand over her face, sighing with resignation. Prophetic dreams like these were a fact of life for her. An annoying part of the whole Cetra package. Still, it never failed to amaze her when she'd have a new dream. Especially if it was as vague as this last one. What the heck was the planet trying to tell her? She was accustomed to its use of dreamlike imagery, but this was beyond merely dreamlike. What do you want me to see? She asked. It didn't answer, merely hummed back at her thoughtfully. Please, I need to understand. Does it have something to do with my other dream? The planet buzzed an affirmative. Please explain more, I don't understand! It hummed more softly, giving her indications that it did not intend to answer her. Sending her the image of fate's never-ending string and her own path upon it. The myriad choices she had lying at her feet, and the planet made her feel that it was not its place to help her decide. It was her own choice... that was the burden of being human it told her. It seemed that the planet had given her a riddle and left it to her to figure it out. Damn it.
She was tired of riddles and guesses, tired of bizarre dreams. Tired of it all. More than anything she wanted to be a normal girl. Like any of the other girls she passed on the street every morning. She tried, tried so damn hard to be like everyone else. Tried to look like them, act like them, pretending that she was one of them. But you're not, are you? She even tried to have a boyfriend like one of them, but that was just another fiasco in a long line of fiascos. Zack. She hadn't thought of him in ages, and she was sure he hadn't thought of her at all. Least until he needs money, then I'm the first thing on his mind.
Another sigh. Yet one more dreary morning in Midgar. Aeris thought back to the day before, and it seemed everyone gave her the same advice. That she ought to leave. Why didn't she? She certainly wasn't happy here. The planet suddenly hummed loudly, its voice so piercing that she held a hand to her temple in pain. No, it wanted her here. Her place was here. God, I wish it wasn't. Aeris was feeling very much like she didn't care what the planet wanted. All her life, all she'd cared about were other people, this planet. Never once thinking about herself and what she wanted. It didn't matter to the planet, did it? It could care less what she wanted. Right now she felt like being selfish. What would the planet do if she just left? It could give her a migraine, but right now she didn't care. Screw this stupid city! Screw this whole horrible planet! She thought acidly, glancing over at her nightstand. A silver tube lay neatly on the table, glinting in the half light.
Reno....he'd given it to her. She was supposed to meet him today. Aeris picked up the weapon carefully, feeling its smooth surface with the palms of her hands. She fingered the little button he'd pointed out and pushed it. The weapon flicked out, extending into a full-length metal staff. It was a simple weapon, but elegant in its own way. She thought of Reno's face as he gave it to her, the small hint of joy in his jaded features. He was a Turk, a hired assassin but he never seemed like that to her. She could never see him that way. Not when he'd smile innocently and treat her like a younger sister.
What about Mr. Fennyman? He too had an odd look of childlike joy whenever she came around. Aeris remembered the first time she'd meet him. Old grouchy Mr. Fennyman, the kind of crotchety elderly man that most took care to avoid. She'd been selling her flowers in front of his store, because she'd been kicked off the corner she normally stood at. The drug store seemed an obvious choice at the time, it was so busy and she'd figured that she could sell a lot of flowers there. Aeris had been standing there less than ten seconds and Mr. Fennyman had come out, hollering and flapping his short arms.
"No Peddlers allowed! Move it along!" He squawked at her, his face puffy and bloated with anger.
Aeris turned to look at him, large green eyes sparkling with wide-eyed innocence, "I'm sorry. I'll leave. I apologize for upsetting you."
She had said it so sweetly, that it had touched the old man's heart. He looked at the girl, long chestnut hair bound by a large pink ribbon. Her face bright and chubby with a child's enthusiasm, and how easily she smiled. It had reminded him of his daughter when she was younger. Before she'd grown up and moved away four years ago, forgetting to visit her old dad, even on holidays.
"No....Um....Wait. You sell flowers, right?"
She nodded, her ponytail bouncing neatly behind her. The old man looked over this strange young girl. Dressed in bright pink, with the most disarmingly beautiful smile he'd ever seen. So unlike every other person in the city, a ray of hope in the midst of darkness. What in the world was someone like her doing here?
"Well, I suppose you might be good for business.....you can stay." Mr. Fennyman smiled for the first time in four years.
From that day forward Aeris had sold her flowers at that drug store. Mr. Fennyman was a first a rather reluctant friend. However, over time, he'd grown quite attached to Aeris. Helping her build her display stand, inviting her and her mother to dinner, things he'd never done before he met her. She had a gentle way about her, bringing out whatever kindness that he'd locked deep inside. Midgar did that to people, setting hard shells of pitiless stone where compassion used to be. Aeris had been the cure and he'd even said as much to her.
What of her adopted mother, Elmyra? The woman had been so kind to her, despite the fact that they shared no blood relation. Treating her like a daughter and not a charity case. Aeris thought back to the scattered memories of her childhood. How Elmyra tried so hard to make every day a happy one for her, before she got sick. Dancing in the rain on the top plate, laughing and running as if they were the freest souls on the planet. The times when Elmyra would let her bake by herself, always smiling when she bit into the newest creation. No matter how bad it turned out. The nights she'd read stories to the young girl, to help ease her into sleep. Comforting arms that held her when her dreams got bad. Good advice when she needed it. She'd always been there, even though she didn't understand what Aeris was going through.
"Would you leave them alone in this rubbish heap? Would you abandon her to this city? She could have done the same to you, but she didn't."
Aeris looked up, startled to see the ghostly vision of her mother standing in the middle of her dark room. "Mama!? What're you...."
"The planet was worried. Your thoughts have been dark of late. So it sent me to you. I cannot stay long..... You wish for the planet to provide answers, but in truth there are none."
"Buh-BUT IT HAS TO!! WHY?"
"Only the fates know and they tell no one but themselves. The power behind our planet is not infinite, nor is it omnipotent. It can only give you different options to help you choose the right path. But ultimately, it is your decision that will guide you. That is why it sends you the dreams. To help you find the best path."
"Really? How does that explain the visions of my death? This planet wants my life, and I'd like to know why in the hell I should give it so easily!?"
"The planet does not want your life, but if the spawn of Jenova acquires ultimate destruction, all that you have seen shall come to pass. That is a vision of possibility and a warning. However, if you can stop her puppet before she has taken hold of him, there is a slim chance that fate's design can be defied."
"Her puppet?" Aeris's brow knit as she thought, suddenly remembering the young man she'd seen yesterday, "That boy....with the white hair. Sephiroth? Is he her puppet?"
"Yes."
"So how do I stop Jenova from....doing whatever she's going to do? She hasn't done it already, has she?"
Ifalna shook her head, "No. The planet has told me that the evil resides in the mist on high, and it will give birth soon. I regret that I don't know more."
"What's the right path to take? Should I seek him out? It's just, I'm so scared. He frightens me......" Aeris stammered, trying to sound much more adult than she felt.
"I know you are scared. I'm sorry this burden has been placed on you. I had always thought it would be mine to bear, but fate does as she pleases. I can only pray that somehow you will find a way. This is the planet's wish as well, we both pray for you. It loves you as much as I. Please, don't give up. The planet said that you needn't worry ....that....." her mother stopped, her illusory form fading a little, "I'm sorry, Aeris....My time is up, the planet can no longer hold me here......I have to go.....I love you....." Ifalna smiled sadly, the soft vision of her body disappearing like morning mist in the afternoon sun.
Aeris fell off the bed with a loud thump, reaching a desperate hand out as she felt hot tears flow down her face, "MAMA! WAIT!"
In the dim light she wept, her sobs echoing through the silent house. The sound had awakened her adoptive mother, who painfully made her way to Aeris's room. Hobbling with cane in hand, she entered to see her daughter weeping on the floor. How many times had this scene been repeated to her? Too many...was all that came to mind.
"Aeris, sweetie.... What's wrong?" Elmyra waited, getting nothing but more baleful sobs, "Did you have another dream?"
The girl nodded shakily, pulling her hands over her face as she cried harder. Elmyra sighed and stooped down carefully, wrapping her arms around her shaking adoptive daughter. She made soft cooing sounds, gently stroking the girl's hair as she rocked her back and forth. Elmyra wished she could just tell her that it was alright. That it was nothing more than a dream, and she should just ignore it. She'd learned long ago such common words were never soothing to someone like Aeris. Her dreams had never been the normal fleeting effluence of the mind. The girl had dreamed her husband's death and not two days later she'd gotten the telegram. How in the world would okay suffice? What possible comfort could it bring to someone who carried such visions? Aeris began to quiet down a little, her breathing returning to normal as she clung to her mother.
"So, Is there anything I can do? Can you tell me what you dreamed about or....won't I understand?"
"I don't know..... I'm not even sure what I dreamed about....."
"Sure seemed to upset you, though."
"They always do. I wish I was normal...." Aeris said despondently, laying her head on her mother's shoulder.
Elmyra gasped, "Don't even say that, Aeris!! I love you just the way you are. The gods gave you a special gift....and they gave you this gift for a reason. Whatever it is, even if you don't like it, it sets you apart from all the ignorant and hateful people in this world. You're my ray of light. The world needs you....I need you." The statement was simple and true.
Aeris bit her lip in thought, "I need you too, Mom..... I guess I'm just scared. I...I feel so alone."
"Aeris, you're never alone. I may not understand, but I'll always be here for you. We've both been through worse, and we'll get through it together. I love you, sweetie....Be brave...and hey....What's that??" Elmyra paused to stare at the large staff still sitting on Aeris's bed.
Aeris's eyes went wide as she cursed her own stupidity. She'd forgotten to retract it. Dang it.... She tried to think, but nothing came to mind and she began to stutter, "It's-it's-it's....a....."
"A weapon...." Elmyra said, exasperation entering her voice, "I thought I told that damn Zack that I didn't want him giving you things like that. He knows about my objections to weapons of any kind!! That does it! Aeris, I don't want you seeing him any more, he's a bad influence....."
"Well....it wasn't exactly from him."
"Who? Oh god..... it's from the Turk, isn't it!? That makes it ten times worse, throw it out!"
"Wait! I mean, you might not like him....but there's a good reason he gave it to me!"
"And that would be...." Elmyra looked at her doubtfully.
Aeris searched her mind for a quick answer, "There's been an increase in muggings lately. Reno...That's his name, the Turk's name and...um....he....was worried about me."
"WORRIED ABOUT YOU! THE MAN HUNTS YOU FOR A LIVING!!"
"Well, he doesn't ever catch me! Frankly, I think he's protecting me.... though he never really says as much. Plus, he's right. Midgar is dangerous for a girl like me, having something to protect myself wouldn't be that horrible an idea." Aeris waited for a moment, watching her mother's face struggle with thought, "He said he'd help me learn how to use it....." She said, her voice hopeful.
"Yeah, then he'd get you alone and drag you off, hand you straight to Shinra, and then where'd you be?"
"But.... There was this creepy guy yesterday, and Reno promised to protect me... I was really scared and he took me out to dinner last night to make me feel better!! He even walked me to the train to make sure I got there okay! And he's going to walk me to work today, he's sort of like my body guard now....Besides, its not like I'm going out with him..... and I have materia now....which means magic. I may not know how to fight, but magic is no problem......" Aeris batted her eyes at her mother, pleadingly.
Elmyra wrinkled her nose in disgusted, making a click of displeasure as she answered, "Dinner?! Oh, Aeris.....What is it with you and bad boys? Why can't you go out with a nice proper young man, instead of these ruffians you hang out with all the time?"
"MOOOOM! I said I wasn't going out with him!! He's just a friend..... sort of. Besides, I'd go out with good boys if there were any in Midgar. That's why I need the staff, to beat 'em off.....So, PLEEEEEASE can I keep it!!??"
"Oh, Fine. If Reno teaches you. And if you take my can of mace, in the event he tries anything."
"I will, I promise!! Thanks Mom!" Aeris smiled sweetly, giving her mother a quick peck on the cheek.
She stood up happily, extending her hand to help her mother up off the floor. The two women walked slowly downstairs, as Aeris had to help her mother. A few years ago, Elmyra had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Everyday since she had gotten worse, loosing more of the fine motor control of her limbs each day. Aeris had tried her best to help, but there was only so much the girl could do. At least her daughter had managed to prolong her good health a little. Holding tightly onto Aeris's arm, they made it down the stairs and into the living room without incident. Aeris guided her to a large and comfy looking easy chair, holding her hand until she was sure her mother was seated comfortably. Elmyra sat, while Aeris quickly got dressed and made breakfast for the both of them. Just before she was to leave, her mother waved her hands at her to stop, as she was too busy eating breakfast to speak. Aeris paused and waited for her mother to finish her food.
"Mmf....Wait.... Before you go..." Elmyra pointed at the closet, "In there.... Your present. I was going to give it to you yesterday but you came home so late."
Aeris winced, fully feeling the weight of her mother's guilt trip. "Sorry..."
Elmyra laughed at her daughter, "Dear, you take life to seriously sometimes. Now go and get your present, silly goose."
The young girl stuck her tongue out at her mother, turning to open the closet door to retrieve her present. She pulled out a box, neatly wrapped in last Sunday's comics page. Smiling at her mother's resourcefulness, Aeris carefully pull off the bright wrapping. She pried off the top of the box and began to rummage through the tissue paper lining. Pushing it back to revel a delicate pink silk strapless dress. Aeris held it up, feeling the soft fabric between her fingers. Pearl buttons shining brightly, trailing down the entire length of the dress.
"Oh....Mom.... Is it real silk?" She gasped, hoping that her mother hadn't gone that out of the way to make a dress just for her.
"No.... too expensive. It's synthetic. There's more."
Aeris set the dress aside, pushing back more of the tissue. At the very bottom of the box was the last part of her present. A magenta bolero jacket, made out of cotton with metal accents. She put a hand to her mouth. There was a jacket just like this one that she'd had her eye on for a long time. It had hung in one of the expensive dress shops she passed everyday. She remembered telling her mother about it, lamenting that she'd never be able to buy something so nice.
"Mom, this is too much!! How much did you pay for all this?"
Elmyra laughed again, "Oh, don't worry. I made it myself. Cost me practically nothing. Besides, you're growing into a beautiful young lady. You deserve to have something nice to wear that makes you feel pretty. I know how hard it is here. This city is so ugly. Sometimes I think it makes you feel that way about yourself. That ugliness sinking right into your skin. I want to make sure you know exactly what a rare flower you are. My beautiful little butterfly, my faerie child....." She smiled wistfully, sharing a silent moment with the young girl before she began again, "But don't you go wearing it right away. It's a summer dress, and it's much too cold to wear now."
"AW! No fair!! You give me this gorgeous dress and I can't even wear it!!! That is SO unfair!!"
"Alright, alright. You can wear it, but only if you wear your real coat over it. And for heaven's sake, don't get it dirty. Now quick go and try it on! Let's see how it looks!"
Aeris darted off excitedly, returning not five minutes later with the dress on. Elmyra gasped, in true awe of her adoptive daughter's beauty. When she had seen the pattern at the fabric shop, she had immediately thought of Aeris. It really did suit her. Feminine yet not too fussy and frilly. Practical yet charmingly beautiful. Perfectly encapsulating the aura that made Aeris so special. Elmyra felt tears welling, and she put a hand to her mouth to stifle a cry. Aeris spun around happily, watching her dress puff out around her. She had completely ignored her mother, looking over at her mid-spin.
"Ma, you okay?" Aeris asked, hurrying to the older woman's side almost immediately.
"Yes.... It's just, you're so beautiful. Happy Birthday.....I love you so much."
"Thanks.....Thank you, Mom....I love you too."
The two women sat together for a moment, holding each other while they cried. Aeris buried her head in her adoptive mother's arms, just glad for the simplicity of human affection.
Reno waited, and waited, and waited and waited. Standing outside Sector five's abandoned church, he lit up a cigarette and prepared to wait some more. She was late. Fifteen minutes late to be exact. He looked at his watch again, his eyes nervously darting from it to the street. After last night's conversation with Tseng, Reno was quite rattled. He hadn't slept as much as he wanted either. Where the fuck is she?? Glancing down at his watch for the hundredth time.
He felt a sharp tug at the back of his head as someone yanked his ponytail hard. Reno instinctively spun around, pulling his gun from its holster and brandishing it at his unknown assailant. The muzzle of the weapon confronting startled viridian eyes. Aeris stared down the barrel of the gun, wide eyes looking up at Reno with uncertainty. Placid azure flickering with momentary panic.
"OH! SHIT! FUCK! SHIT! DAMN! I'm sorry Aeris....it's just...I thought.... I didn't know it was you!!" Reno stumbled over the words, trailing off as he felt unable to come up with a good enough excuse for pulling a gun on her. He quickly holstered it, smiling sheepishly at her.
"And who'd you think it was? Black market hair thieves? Better watch out...I've got scissors!!!" She grinned, her hands held like a pair of furiously snipping scissors.
"I said I was sorry, GEESH!" He barked, his voice boyishly embarrassed, "Anyway.... You should be the one apologizing, not me!"
"Why?"
"For bein' late!! I was about to call Tseng up and send out a search party!!"
"Really?" She said, interested and amused at the same time, "So what's with the sudden change?? Yesterday, you were barely willing to believe me. Now you're the original Mr. Jumpy."
"Found some things out. That's all you have to know. That, and I'll protect you. Both me and Tseng. We won't let that bastard touch you."
He looked over at the girl next to him, his hard eyes softening just a little. She reminded him so much of his little sister. They chatted amiably the entire way to Mr. Fennyman's. Perhaps one of the first times they hadn't argued when in each other's company. Reno made sure to be extra nice to her, he even curbed his swearing. He wanted to make sure she was relaxed, to let her know that nothing was going to happen to her, because he'd make sure. He had told her he'd be watching. That she ought to go through her day like nothing was different. She had nothing at all to worry about, because he was near, even if she couldn't see him. So he watched her the entire day from a secluded spot. Nothing had happened, and Reno had become bored and nervous. He hadn't had a cigarette in four hours and he was hungry. Still, watching Aeris wasn't all that bad. He supposed he could have had it worse.
A young man with black hair approached her stand, dressed as an elite SOLDIER. Reno narrowed his eyes, the boy suddenly piquing his interest. As he watched, the SOLDIER picked a fight with Aeris. Their conversation fast and furious, an unhappy frown on the young girl's face. She stood, green eyes flashing, jabbing her finger at the boy. He gestured back wildly, and Reno could hear him shout something at her, but the words and meaning were garbled. The SOLDIER grabbed her by the arm and roughly began to drag her into a nearby alleyway. Ice filled Reno's veins as his emotions drained from his body.
He remembered why he'd joined the Turks. His sister. Her murder. The fact that the bastard had gotten off on a technicality. She was such a bright and trusting girl. Sweet, like Aeris. The kind of soul that didn't belong in a wasteland like this. She'd been raped and then strangled, and worst of all, mutilated after death. The things he did to her. They had to have a closed casket. Couldn't exactly say goodbye to the parts of her they found. Cold. Sweeping numbness overwhelmed him. He thought back to the night after the verdict. How he hunted that bastard down. Found his family, and waited for him to come home. How he tied the mother fucker to a chair and made him choose which of his three children he'd kill first. Reno had briefly thought about leaving him alive with the pain, but the bullet he put through the bastard's brain had been too satisfying.
Apparently, Reno hadn't been the only one hunting the murderer, that's what he called him. Bastard's name meant nothing. Someone else had put a hit on him. Hired the Turks to do it. It was then and there, as he stood over the body of his enemy, soaked in blood, that he'd become a Turk. Never looked back.
"Get off me, Zack! LET ME GO! OW! YOU'RE HURTING ME!"
"Why?" He smirked, "Don't you love me anymore?"
"I should ask you that! How dare you come back after three months and not a single call and expect me to give you money! What the hell is wrong with you!!" Aeris snarled, trying to sound like she wasn't afraid.
"You wound me Aeris. I love you.....Maybe....I want more than just money...." Zack smiled cruelly, pinning her arms against the alley's wall.
"Zack.....What.....Please..." Aeris gasped, her eyes becoming suddenly desperate as he leaned in to her.
His lips connecting in a firm and unloving kiss. She struggled against him, his grip shifting. Pinning her down with one hand, so he could free the other. His hand slipping over her breast and squeezing it hard. She squealed in pain, all the while struggling in vain. Hot wet tears pouring down her cheeks as he unbuttoned the top of her dress. Please don't......Zack's eyes went wide, and he broke contact with her to turn around. He screamed abruptly and fell to the ground twitching.
Aeris looked at Zack's convulsing body, slowly moving up to gaze at her savior. Reno stood over her ex-boyfriend; a large metal pipe of some sort slung over one shoulder brashly. She stepped forward, a small smile on her face but then stopped. His gaze met hers, and it was so cold. The Reno in front of her was not the friend she had gotten to know. His face was set, as if made of granite. Eyes blankly murderous. No wonder so many people feared the Turks. She had never taken him seriously, never.
"Reno....Thank....you..."
He looked at her levelly, his voice emotionless, "Aeris, I want you to leave now."
She looked at Zack again, slowly realizing what Reno was going to do, "No...."
"Aeris...." He replied, a warning note in his voice.
"No....." once again, she tried to be brave but failed miserably.
"Aeris. LEAVE NOW!" He barked, the tone in his voice frightening her.
She hastily buttoned her dress, looking up nervously at Reno. She crossed over to him, placing a gentle hand on his arm. In an instant, she understood, "Please.....promise me you won't kill him."
Reno replied softly, "He almost raped you."
"Don't kill him." Her deep green eyes looking at him with sincerity, "Too much blood stains your soul.....I don't want you to....and someone.....She wouldn't want you to. Understand?"
Somehow, he knew that she had seen. All of it. Damn you Aeris, why do you always have to be so understanding? Just like his sister, willing to forgive. He nodded, his cold gaze momentarily wavering, "Fine..... I won't."
Aeris composed herself and left the alley, leaving Reno and Zack alone. The frost returned and Reno smiled joylessly at the waking soldier. Zack woke with a soft moan, cupping the back of his head in pain. The SOLDIER stood, groggily swaying back and forth as he tried to clear the fog in his head.
"I was hoping it wasn't going to be that easy." Reno twirled the metal pipe in his hands, absently swinging it into the small of the SOLDIER's back.
The boy stumbled and hugged the wall desperately. His eyes stealing a glance at his enemy's uniform. Blue suit, sunglasses, white shirt...."Yuh-yu-you're a Turk. Why?"
"Lots of reasons. Foremost in my mind....my unbridled hate for pig fuckers like you. She's what? Half your height? A real challenge....So I'm wonderin'....You like fighting girls or are you just too pussy to fight a man....bitch?"
"Fuck you. I'm re-reporting you to...." the boy paused as his vision cleared, eyes widening in alarm as he recognized the man in front of him. Reno...he and Tseng were almost as feared and famous at the Great General himself. How the hell did Aeris meet someone like him? Fuck...."You're him. The Red Devil...."
"Yeah, I've been called that. Stupid name, don't you think?" Reno paused as he twirled the pipe around again, "You know. You're lucky."
"Why?" The boy slurred, shaking his head as he staggered.
"She's the reason you're going to live." He smiled, metal pipe whishing menacingly in the air, "Know what this thing is?" The soldier switched to his best defensive stance, "It's one of Shinra's new little toys. EMR...Electro-Mag rod. Neat little weapon. They give us all the cool stuff to do field tests on." Reno flipped a switch, twin tines of the EMR sparkling to life. "This is gonna be fun."
Author's Notes—
Hey, Y'all!! Nice to be back. Sorry 'bout the gap between posts. I have to wait 'till inspiration strikes, don't want my chapters to be sucking. I have to apologize for the lack of Sephy action. Don't worry, our silver haired chum'll be back soon. Just gotta come up with the right set up. I'm glad I get to show a different side of Reno here. Next chapter I'm thinkin' we get to see electro-mag fun!! WHEE! Zack gets zapped. I never did like him. Yeah, he played a small role, but he totally used Aeris. So, I get my revenge!! It is terrible, no?? Okay, no....but humor me already. Thanks to my reviewers. I love you all, with big silly butterfly kisses! Not sure when the next update'll be. Hopefully, sooner than this one. It all depends on if I have a good idea for next chapter and I get adequate time to write it properly. Happy reading, I'll see y'all next chapter!
CIAO!—Noacat.