A/N: Sorry for the delay in the chapters, I've been suffering from writers block. Curse you Writers block. But please enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer I do not own Vincent or any of the Final Fantasy Characters in this story. Valayris Valk is my own creation thought.
The three reach the end of the hall to see Valayris struggling to break free from the Boss's grip.
"Vincent, Cloud, Tifa" Valayris cries, "Help me, please!"
"Let her go," Vincent roars.
The Boss did not have the right to treat her so shamelessly. "Valayris needs swift justice Vincent thinks, "Justice I will delivery for you Valayris."
The Boss jerks Valayris around seeing that look of justice spreading across the trio's face. Valayris groans, as sparks of pain shot up her arm.
"I don't think so," the Boss says, "I've lost too many men to this cause just to hand her back to the likes of you three."
The Boss grabs a hold of Vincent's cape.
"Mr. Valentine I think before the lovely white mage and I are off she should return your cape." The Boss smirks.
"No keep it," Vincent says.
"No, no, I really must insist. We're all ladies and gentlemen here. The polite thing to do would be returning something that does not belong to us," the Boss says beginning to pull the cape off Valayris's body, "She's no use to me in clothes anyway."
Valayris tries desperately to keep the cape on, jerking it in the opposite direction the Boss was pulling it. Tears streak down her cheeks; she knew if the cape left her body the events following would be unbearable.
"Help me," Valayris whimpers looking at group with pitiful forlorn eyes.
Valayris is weak and the group senses that. Vincent's heart aches seeing that expression of weakness on his dear Valayris's face. "Stop it, stop it, stop it!" Vincent inner voice yells.
"Take that cape off her and you're going to regret it," Cloud says pointing his sword at the Boss.
"I'm I?" the Boss asks.
The Boss caresses Valayris's face with his free hand.
"Please, stop," Valayris whimpers.
This was all wrong, Vincent was the one who should be holding her, caressing her face, loving her, not this slime. The sensation of his filthy hand on her face makes Valayris's skin crawl.
"What my dear? Keeping going? As you wish," the Boss says his hand traveling to her shoulders disappearing under the cape. Vincent watches his anger flaring up he had no right to lay his filthy disgusting hands on her. If Valayris hadn't been separating Vincent and the Boss Vincent would have killed him right now. Valayris whimpers at the sensation of the unwelcome hand. The Boss's fingers slide across the top of her shoulders and Valayris prays that's where they stay.
"Get your filthy hands off her," Tifa yells stepping forward.
"Come any closer and I'll kill her," the Boss says taking his hand out of the cape and pulling out a large dagger from inside the sleeve of his coat.
Vincent points Cerberus at the Boss, "How dare you touch her. You filthy animal."
"Animal, am I?" The Boss asks, "Why Mr. Valentine out of all of us you are the only animal here."
Vincent growls in response to the Boss's rude remark.
"Kill me and this entire establishment will be breathing down your necks. You might kill me but you won't be able to kill this establishment."
Vincent looks at Valayris, "I'm going to kill him now."
"I don't think so," the Boss says pulling Valayris in front of him, "You can't because you don't want to kill her."
"You underestimate white mages," Valayris smiles at the Boss.
Vincent begins to pull the trigger.
"Vincent what are you doing you'll kill her?" Tifa cries.
Valayris takes a deep breath her body tints a faint silver as Vincent pulls the trigger. The bullet speeds out of the gun sparkling in silver light. Tifa screams when the bullet reaches Valayris. Tifa and Cloud take in a deep breath waiting for Valayris's agonizing scream to echo the room. Yet, the bullet passes through Valayris like she was made of smoke. The bullet pierces the Boss engulfing him in silver light. The Boss screams while his body disappears. Valayris drops to the floor. Blowing on the tip of his gun Vincent utters the words, "Evil Be Gone."
Tifa and Cloud sigh as they look at each other with similar confused looks.
"You shot her," Cloud says, "Why didn't the bullet hurt her?"
"Valayris made it a white mage bullet for me. Those bullets will never kill an innocent." Vincent says walking over to Valayris.
"I've heard of those. Never knew they truly existed." Tifa says.
Tifa and Cloud make their way over to Vincent and Valayris.
"Valayris are you ok?" Cloud asks.
"I am now thanks to you guys," Valayris says pulling the cape tightly around her as silver tears slide down her cheeks.
Bending down in front of Valayris Vincent looks deep into her blue eyes. Vincent gently wipes away the tears from Valayris's face.
"I'm here Valayris everything's going to be ok now," Vincent whispers to her. Impulsively Vincent pulls Valayris toward him holding her close. Cloud and Tifa watch in awe Vincent had never shown this side of his personality before. Valayris notices a change in Vincent's embrace was different. Valayris couldn't place it but it she knew it was different.
"We should be going," Tifa says breaking the silence.
"We need to shut this place down," Cloud tells them.
"Ok," Vincent says helping Valayris up, "You're not leaving my side again."
"Yes Sir," Valayris breathes seeing sincerity in Vincent's red eyes.
The four of them reunited at last make their way to the lab.
Opening the lab door the four are greeted by hundreds of Deep Ground soldiers all their guns pointed at them.
Tifa and Valayris let out little nervous laughs. The guys look at each other and smile slightly.
"This is going to be fun," Cloud tells Vincent.
"We have you surrounded, hand over the white mage and you all can go free," a voice echoes from one of the soldiers.
"We can see we're surrounded," Cloud says gesturing with his sword.
"But the last thing we're going to do is give her back to you when we got her back ourselves," Vincent says clicking back Cerberus's hammer.
Cloud turns to look at Tifa, "Tifa, you in?"
Tifa smiles getting into her ready position, "Naturally."
"3 against 100s do you think that's fair?" Cloud asks.
"Not to them," Vincent replies.
"You mean 4," Valayris says, "Right Cloud?"
"No Valayris," Cloud says, "You need to stay safe."
"I won't watch my friends fight alone. Not anymore," Valayris says.
Vincent feels something drape over his shoulders. Looking down he sees his cape.
"Valayris put the cape back..." Vincent says turning around to see Valayris glowing. The glowing dies away to reveal Valayris standing there in a long white dress and her wings, usually translucent when they appear were now opaque.
"I can fight too," Valayris says holding her staff.
"Valayris, no," Tifa says, "You need to save your strength."
"I'm going to help the people I love," Valayris says as her wings outstretched, "Now lets shut down this place."
Valayris takes to the air as Cloud and Tifa charge into battle. Vincent begins firing into the crowd of Deep Ground soldiers signaling the beginning of the battle. The lab echoes with gunfire and the clanking of metal on metal. Cloud uses blade beam taking down a group of charging soldiers. As the men scatter and fall to the ground Cloud hears Tifa scream.
"Tifa!" Cloud cries looking around.
He finds Tifa hunching over griping her shoulder. The soldiers she was fighting begin to surround her, taking advantage of their wounded prey.
"Tifa," Cloud cries rushing to her.
Spinning and slicing Cloud takes down the soldier's harassing Tifa.
"Thanks Cloud," Tifa breathes.
"Val!" Cloud cries.
Valayris looks down after taking down another soldier with her staff.
"Tifa needs your healing touch," Cloud says.
Valayris lands in front of Tifa.
"Keep us covered Cloud, please," Valayris requests.
"No problem," Cloud says, "It will be ok Tifa. I'll protect you no matter what."
Tifa looks at Cloud with a questioning look.
"He loves you Tifa," Valayris whispers in her ear as she places a hand on her Tifa's wounded shoulder, "I can feel it."
Tifa lets in a little gasp, could this be really happening to her.
"Don't waste your magic on this," Tifa says exiting her blissfully thoughts of her and Cloud.
"If I didn't use it on people I care about then who do I use it on," Valayris smiles kissing her hand.
The warm silver light zings through Tifa's wound closing it up and returning it back to normal.
"Now fight," Valayris says before taking to the air again.
Tifa watches her take to the air before returning to battle.
"Valayris are you doing ok?" Vincent asks rising up a column of flames.
"I'm fine Vincent," Valayris says firing off some bolts of silver magic, "I feel pretty good."
"Don't overexert yourself," Vincent says.
"I promise I won't," Valayris smiles as Vincent forges head of her killing at he goes.
The battle rages on as the 4 heroes grow weary from all the fighting. The soldiers seem to be crawling out of the woodwork now. Striking down one, three took its place.
"Tifa," Cloud says covering her back, "There's too many,"
"We have to fight," Tifa encourages.
Cloud grip tightens on his sword, "Are you with me Tifa?"
"Till the end," Tifa smiles.
The two split from each other slicing and pounding their way through Deep Ground soldiers.
"Take down the mage. Shoot her in the wing," a soldier says as some soldiers turn their guns up toward her.
Vincent in response fires off round after round trying to keep them off Valayris.
"Why don't you guys play with me?" Vincent asks.
The group diverts their aim toward Vincent. The gunfire roars as Vincent and the soldiers exchange shot for shot. Dodging and weaving Vincent finally takes down his competition.
"Where are they all coming from?" Vincent asks himself looking around.
Checking on Valayris he sees her finish off a few soldiers all away across the room. Vincent notices her wings we're slowing down. Fatigue was setting in Vincent knew Valayris couldn't keep that form up to much longer. Vincent sees Valayris start to glow. Watching her, her wings disappear and she plummets toward the tile floor of the lab.
"Valayris! No!" Vincent says hoping he would get to her on time.
"Where do you think your going?" a soldier asks.
Having no time to spare Vincent kills the soldier instantly. The soldier's body drops to the floor giving Vincent the perfect view of Valayris feet above the floor. He wasn't going to make it. The hopelessness of the situation hits Vincent like a giant wave. Valayris watches the floor coming closer and closer. Bracing herself for the pain about to wash over. Closing her eyes she prepares for the worst. Stopping abruptly, she lands in what feel like arms. Opening her eyes she sees someone she didn't expect to see.
"Cid?" Valayris asks, "Cid!"
Cid smiles down at her, "Well hello little darlin'."
Wrapping her arms around his neck she hugs the pilot.
"I've missed you," Valayris tells him.
"Missed you too," Cid says before setting her down, "Now if you'll excuse me I have to go fight. We can catch up afterwards."
Vincent couldn't believe what he had just seen; Cid seemingly out of nowhere saves Valayris.
"At least Valayris is safe," Vincent sighs feeling guilty for not being the one to save her.
"Cid?" Vincent asks as Cid comes up next to him.
"Hello Vincent, long time no see buddy," Cid says.
The two begin to fight side by side like they had done over one year ago.
"Cid," Vincent says firing off a few more rounds into some Deep Ground scum.
"Yea," Cid states running his spear through a charging soldier.
"Thank you for coming and for saving Valayris," Vincent says.
"Glad I could help," Cid says, "Hope I didn't steal your thunder."
Vincent laughs internally at the indirect way Cid was trying to make him feel ok about not being able to save Valayris this time.
"Thanks Cid," Vincent says.
"No problem kid," Cid laughs before charging off.
Backing up toward a wall Valayris bumps into something. Turning around Valayris sees a soldier looming over her.
"Gotcha," a soldier says.
Valayris backs away from the soldier when a red blur takes down the soldier growling and snarling the entire way. The soldier stops fighting and the red blur looks up at Valayris.
"Red?" Valayris asks, "Red!"
Valayris bends down hugs Red XIII.
"What about me?" another familiar voice says.
"Cait Sith," Valayris says picking up the robotic cat.
Looking into the cat's eyes Valayris says, "Thanks Reeve."
Valayris then hugs Cait Sith. Valayris feels Cait Sith's arms wrap around her neck.
Valayris then places Cait Sith back on Red's back.
"It's so good to see you two," Valayris says looking at them, "Please help the others."
The two nod then take off into the crowd of Deep Ground. Red using Sledge Fang takes out a group of soldiers that were giving Cloud a hard time.
"Red? Cait Sith?" Cloud asks, "What are you guys doing here?"
"We were worried about you and Tifa when you guys never checked in," Cait Sith explains.
"Well its good to see reinforcements," Tifa smiles, "We need them right about now."
"Where are they all coming from?" Cait Sith asks as Red gets ready to pounce.
"Who knows?" Tifa shrugs.
"Has anyone seen Valayris?" Cloud asks not seeing her in the air above them.
"We assisted her a few minutes ago," Red says.
"So she's ok?" Cloud asks.
"Yep," Red says before taking off.
Vincent and Cid were slimming down the thick crowd of soldiers.
"Is anyone watching Val?" Cid asks Vincent.
Vincent stops, "Not that I am aware of."
"Maybe you should go oh great protector," Cid says.
"I can't just leave you in alone to fight theses guys," Vincent tells him.
"I'll be fine," Cid smirks, "Now go!"
Vincent nods looking to see if he can find where Valayris had ran off too. Vincent spots her tucking herself in a corner trying to keep from being seen. Her shimmering white dress was not helping her situation any. Rushing over to her Vincent sees someone land in front of Valayris carrying a huge weapon. Vincent never seeing the figure clearly draws his gun and says, "If you value your life get away from the white mage."
The figure turns around and says, "Geesh Vincent she's my friend too."
"Yuffie?" Vincent asks lowering his gun.
"Uh, yea!" Yuffie replies, "Who else would it be?"
"I didn't think it would be you," Vincent says feeling rather silly.
"It's ok Vincent," Yuffie says.
"Go help Cid please," Valayris request noticing Cid under heavy fire since Vincent left.
"You got it Val," Yuffie smiles before flipping off into the battle.
"Why aren't you out there?" Valayris asks, "Are you hurt?"
Valayris comes out of her corner getting ready to heal him.
"No I'm fine, I'm your protector remember," Vincent says, "I can't protect you when you're here and I'm there."
"True," Valayris agrees.
Ever since that embrace Vincent seems different to Valayris. Not bad different, just different like he had put the first few difficult pieces of an extremely challenging puzzle together and those piece had given him the courage and the motivation to move on.
The battle roars on when the rattle of a large loud gun echoes over all the fighting. Vincent and Valayris look to see a large figure enter the room.
"Barret?" Valayris asks.
"Val," Barret smiles at her, "Aye Vincent how you been?"
"Good to see you Barret," Vincent says.
"Where you been Barret?" Yuffie asks.
"Yeah your late," Cloud smiles as Barret.
"Haha Very funny Spikey!" Barret says, "Let's finish off these Deep Ground scum!"
Barret charges into battle his gun arm blazing. The battlefield roars for the last time as one by one the Deep Ground threat ends till finally the heroes are the only ones left standing. The stranglers of Deep Ground run off hiding in the numerous holes of this maze of a headquarters. Valayris rushes out to assist anyone who was in need of her care.
"Thanks Val," Barret says looking at his arm after she fixes up a scratch left by a bullet that had grazed him.
"Yuffie, are you all right?" Valayris asks, "Do you need healing?"
"Nope Val I'm good!" Yuffie smiles.
"Good, good," Valayris sighs, "Red? Cait Sith?"
"You couldn't heal me if I was hurt Valayris," Cait Sith says, "But I'm fine."
"Reeve's will be pleased to hear that," Valayris smiles, "Red?"
"I'm fine Valayris," Red bows.
Valayris looks over to see Cid his head bowed forward.
"Cid!" Valayris says rushing over to him.
"Cid?" Valayris cries looking at him.
"It's just a scratch," Cid says moving his hand away from his forehead, "Bullet grazed right by me."
Valayris looks to see blood streak down Cid's face from the bullet wound.
"Oh Cid," Valayris says quickly going to work to fix the wound.
Vincent walks over to Cloud and says, "Valayris and Cid have a pretty close relationship don't they?"
Cloud looks at Vincent, "Jealous?"
"No, not at all, why would I be?" Vincent says defensively.
"I don't know, why would you?" Cloud shrugs.
"Well I'm not," Vincent says.
"Don't worry Vincent," Tifa says shooting Cloud a dirty look, "Cid is like the Valayris's second father nothing more then that."
"Oh," Vincent says.
Valayris and Cid walk over to join the group.
"Feelin better Cid?" Yuffie asks.
"All better," Cid says , "Thanks Val."
"Always a pleasure Cid," Valayris smiles.
"So we've taking care of the hundreds of Deep Ground scum," Barret says, "What's next?"
"We need to shut this place down permanently," Cloud says.
"Well lets blow this joint," Barret suggests.
"We can't that might release Valayris's modified magic onto the world," Tifa says.
"Tifa's right," Vincent says, "We need to eliminate the virus they've created and take care of Valayris's magic then we can blow this place up."
"Well lets get to work," Yuffie cheers