A/N: This will be a rather lengthy author's note for me as I need to discuss a couple errors that have been made by myself in regards to this story. Nothing major, but I wanted to point them out to avoid further confusion. One is a technical glitch, another a context issue. The technical foul-up has to do with the last couple chapters. You may have noticed they've been changed to chapters 6A and 6B, and that they are shorter than usual. The reason is I messed up with the upload last friday, and only posted half of chapter 6. I noticed this with this friday's post, but by then it was too late. I changed the chapter titles, but unfortunately the text in 6B still says Chapter 7, (sigh)... Sorry about this, as it affects the pacing of the story a bit. This chapter is the REAL Chapter 7.
The context error is also no big thing. I received a well-written and thoughtful review from a reader (which I greatly appreciated by the way!) which mentioned how strange it was Hojo is a priest. I had seen this line of thought in a couple of other reviews as well, and was puzzled as Hojo is most definitely NOT a priest! Then it hit me! The word 'Minister'... It has kind of a double meaning and I had failed to clarify it in the fic! This word is being used in a political context, kind of like the Prime Minister of the UK. Hojo works for the King of Midgar, not the Cetran Church. His position is comparable to what he was in FF7, but since this is a fantasy story I could not make him Head of Scientific Research. Let's just call him the Minister of Insanity and leave it at that.
Another question raised in the review is about the flashbacks and whether they came from the novel Ladyhawke. Well, I've never read that novel and didn't even know it existed, though I'd love to get my hands on it. The flashback scenes are my own, and I'm glad people are enjoying them since the rest of the story is just pretty much a blatant rip-off! I hope this clears things up. Sorry to ramble on so long! Now back to the story, and thanks once again for reading and reviewing!
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Chapter 7 (For real this time!)
"It will be light soon." muttered Cloud, looking up at the sky, it's starry horizon being slowly replaced by the oranges and reds of sunrise. He glanced back across the plains. "I'm glad we gained some ground yesterday. We needed the rest."
Aerith nodded tiredly. "I'll start a fire. I could use a hot meal before we start off again" she offered helpfully, taking out some of their firewood from Sleipnir's sidebag and approaching some half-buried whitestone.
"Just a small one for cooking." warned Cloud. "And we'll have to douse the flames as soon as we're done."
Aerith set to work as Cloud tended to Sleipnir and took note of the location of the fading stars and moon across the horizon as he planed their route to Midgar. He shivered slightly, though the weather was still warm. There was no sign of Baigan and the Bishop's men, but he felt uneasy today. Usually he enjoyed sunrise, but this one seemed... off somehow.
"We have some pheasant left from yesterday, Cloud!" Aerith smiled at him. "Is that all right?"
Cloud nodded, favoring her with one of his half-smiles. He turned back to planning their next move, his back stiff with worry and concentration.
Aerith frowned and walked up to him, sensing his mood. She wrapped her arms around him, massaging her cheek against his strong shoulders. "Don't worry so much, Cloud. We'll make it to Midgar. They say the Patriarch is not happy with the Bishop. Surely he'll help us get justice for my aunt and poor Zack."
Cloud turned and embraced her. "You're right. I just wish I had appeared sooner that night. Had I been more observant, Zack and Elmyra..."
Aerith took his frowning face in her hands and shook her head, her chestnut curls flowing over her slim shoulders. "That was not your fault. Don't ever blame yourself! The Bishop and Baigan are the ones to blame. And we will make them pay, won't we Cloud?"
Cloud nodded, his features softening. He bent down slightly, his lips making their way towards her own, but a strange sound stopped him. Cloud looked up and saw the newly-forming light of the inevitable dawn had disappeared, and had been replaced by a complete, absolute blackness, with only their small cookfire providing any light. The stars and moon were nowhere to be seen. The horrible sound increased, as if thousands of people screamed in pain all at once.
"Cloud!" Aerith cried, frightened. "What's happening!" She grabbed her head as if in pain. "I-I feel so strange..!"
Cloud grabbed her shoulders in worry. "What is it? What's wrong!" Aerith could not answer, but sank to her knees in obvious pain.
A shrill, terrible laugh rang out across the darkness. Cloud stood in fury. He knew that laugh. Only the Bishop himself could make laughter sound so horrible. "Where are you, devil! Come and face me!" Nothing appeared, but Aerith began to scream. As Cloud turned back to her, he saw her form shimmer and begin to disappear. Feathers replaced flesh and her scream turned into the piercing cry of a wild hawk which flew into the air. The bird soared cloud-high underneath the rising sun.
"Aerith!" Cloud cried in pain and horror. He stretched out his hand to her, but she was now far from his reach, gliding and shrieking in the light of the breaking dawn. "No, this can't be real! Aerith! AERITH!"
-
Cloud broke out of the painful memory. That had been the beginning of this horrible nightmare. His own first transformation had occurred at sunset that same day. It had taken a few days after that for him to realize the awful truth. Leaving notes at sunset for Aerith, he decided he would travel to the capital to seek aid. He remembered going to the Grand Cathedral in Midgar and being laughingly branded a madman by the Patriarch's guards when he told them the unbelievable tale. He remembered seeking out priests and wizards, scholars and witches in the hopes that someone may know how to break the curse. No matter how much he paid or begged them, no one did. Finally, all hope lost, he had returned to Aquila with the determination to end this impossible situation one way or another.
The blonde ex-squire looked back to the campsite where a young Wutaian girl slept peacefully. He strode over to her and moved Yuffie's sleeping pallet closer to the warm cookfire he had prepared. A freshly-caught rizopas fish was roasting over the flame, and a pile of perfectly ripe fruit and nuts rested next to the fire. Yuffie began to stir at the smells. She soon opened her eyes and looked at him sleepily.
"Good morning." Cloud gave her with one of his half-smiles. He gestured to the food. "You looked a little pale, so I got you something to eat."
"Ah! Goody!" Yuffie grabbed a fresh fall apple and began to munch. "I need some energy after last night's excitement."
"What happened?" asked Cloud as he began to prepare Sleipnir for travel.
Yuffie hesitated, not wishing to draw too much of Cloud's ire, especially when he was being nice for a change. "Oh, nothing I couldn't handle." The truth was she had searched for his flower girl half the night after she had run off and had only found her sleeping in the wood a few hours before dawn. She had then collapsed herself in exhaustion, forgetting to tell Aerith about Imperius' plan.
Before Cloud could question her further, the cry of the hawk rang out across a half-frozen lake they rested besides. Cloud raised his arm for her to land, but this time she flew right past him and landed on a surprised Yuffie's wrist. Cloud looked back in shock and raised an eyebrow.
Yuffie laughed nervously. "Ah, how sweet! Good morning to you too Miss Hawk! Now fly back to your master!" She lifted her arm in an attempt to send the bird over to Cloud but it did not budge. "Heh, heh... silly, little bird. Hawks are for knights!"
"So, what really happened last night?" Cloud looked pointedly at the ninja.
"I told you nothing. Well, there was a little trouble with a wolf-hunter, but she, I mean, I took care of him!"
"And that's all that happened?"
"Well, we did talk a bit... but nothing that would interest you." She walked over to Cloud and handed him the hawk.
The warrior glowered at her. "You said nothing of the old priest's plan, then?"
"No." Yuffie walked back from him a bit and turned around, a scowl on her face. "Don't you ever think of anything but killing the Bishop? Don't you even care what she's going through?"
She had expected an angry reaction from Cloud, but instead he sighed as he perched the hawk on a small fallen tree branch. "The thought never leaves my mind." he admitted. "So, please, tell me everything she said. But remember, Yuffie, I will know if the words are hers."
Yuffie looked down at the ground. "She mentioned the day you first met... and cursed it."
Yuffie's eyes were lowered so she never saw the look of utter and absolute pain that flashed across Cloud's proud visage. He looked heavenward, the guilt and shame flooding through his veins.
"But, then..." continued Yuffie, looking up with a smile. "She talked about how happy you were together before the Bishop's curse. And her eyes glowed. No, she glowed." She looked tearfully at her friend. "She loves you more than anything, Spike! She's had to..."
Conflicting emotions fought back and forth across Cloud's face. Finally he looked at Yuffie and spoke in a sad voice. "Did you know that hawks and wolves mate for life?" He nodded as a sympathetic look came over the ninja's face. "Yeah... The Bishop wouldn't even leave us that. Not even that..." He turned and began to prepare for the journey ahead, Yuffie's eyes staring after him with pity.
-
The travel back to Aquila continued during the course of the day. Cloud rode Sleipnir, often times galloping ahead to make sure there were no ambushes waiting. This also gave him the perfect excuse to avoid Yuffie's arguments that he should at least listen to Imperius. The young ninja noticed that Cloud's good mood from the morning continued to fade the closer they got to the Bishopric. His face became like stone and his blazing blue eyes narrowed with fierce intent. She could tell his course had been decided and he would not relent.
The old monk finally caught up to them near evening. At first Cloud tried to ignore him, but the priest's bellow could not be denied.
"Still resolved to kill His Grace, are you! Why won't you listen to me?" The monk held out if hands in supplication. "In two days shall your chance come at last!. If you just heed my advice you can confront the Bishop with her by your side and confound the curse once and for all!"
"I will listen to you when you speak words worth hearing," Cloud replied flatly. "And not this gibberish your wine-soused mind has concocted in a vain attempt at redemption!" Imperius bowed his head in shame at the warrior's harsh words.
Yuffie stepped in. "But what if he's right Cloud! If you try to attack the Bishop alone, you'll just be killed, no matter how strong you are! And even if you do slay him, who's to say that'll break the curse! I think we should give Imperius a chance!"
Cloud glared at her from atop Sleipnir, his eyes devoid of emotion. "I warned you. I don't want to listen to anymore of this nonsense, from you, him or anyone else! Just stay here with the old drunk! I'll deal with this myself."
No, I'm going with you! You can't get into the Mythril Manor without me!"
"I will get in, without your help." Cloud's determined face softened a bit. "I'm sorry, Yuffie, I should never have involved you in this. It's my problem, and I will solve it. Alone." With that he wheeled Sleipnir around and galloped off without a backwards glance.
Imperius rested his wizened hand on Yuffie's shoulder. "Thank you Yuffie, for believing in me. And standing up for the truth."
Yuffie sighed, "I guess I should have known better. Every happy thing I've gotten has come from lying." She walked off leaving a shocked and saddened old priest behind.
-
The thief and the priest followed Sleipnir's tracks to a small copse, the stars already overhead by the time they reached it. Asking Imperius to wait, Yuffie ran up to where Aerith was sitting besides a small campsite.
The pretty flower girl smiled when she saw her friend. "Oh, Yuffie! I was worried when you weren't here after I... awoke. Are you all right? You didn't get hurt last night, did you?"
"I'm fine." nodded Yuffie. "But I think you should know, this'll be our last night together."
Aerith's face grew sad. "Why? Have you decided to leave us? Not that I would blame you..."
"No, never!" cried Yuffie, shaking her head. "It's just that tomorrow Cloud intends to force his way into the Mythril Manor and kill the Bishop!"
"What!" cried Aerith in alarm. "Alone! What is he thinking! Oh, by the Cetran God, what if they kill him!" The flower lady knelt by the fire in grief.
"But we have a plan, Aery! We may have found a way to break the curse!"
"'We'?" Aerith asked confused. At that moment Imperius made his and next to Yuffie and smiled at her. "Father!" she cried, smiling, but confused. "What are you doing here?"
-
Imperius and Yuffie had laid out the plan to Aerith, who had quickly agreed. Something about it had felt right, she said, and what's more she was terrified by the thought of Cloud attacking the Bishop alone. They decided the best plan was to trap Cloud while in wolf-form and force him to listen to reason once he reverted to human shape. This would also prevent him from attacking Aquila before the destined time. Aerith would be the bait, she was the only one the wolf would come to when called. She began to cry out for him as Yuffie and Imperius dug a hole, griping at each other all the while.
"I think I hear him coming!" Aerith cried, but her voice was lost over the other two arguing as they tried to lift the hefty Imperius from the hole.
"Aarrgh!" cried the old man, as Yuffie tried to give him a boost. "What are you doing! Push me up, blast you!"
Yuffie stood up, panting and sweating from the exertion. "Imperius..." she asked sarcastically, "When you kneel before your Cetran altar... how do you get up again?"
"You blasphemous, young nymph!" he cried, also tired and grouchy from the work, "Help me up, now! The wolf will be here soon. He grabbed hold of a rope tied to Sleipnir. "That's it! And again!" he bellowed nearly out of the hole.
"There he is!" cried Aerith. "He's crossing the lake!"
The kunoichi scrambled up out of the hole atop Imperius' back, sending the holy man back into the hole. "Yuffie!" he fumed in exasperation.
"We're ready, Aery!" Yuffie exclaimed, running up to her friend.
"All right." whispered the flower girl. She gestured for the wolf to come closer, and the beast cantered across the lake-ice in answer to her summons. The plan seemed to be going well until, without warning, the new ice cracked and the wolf's bottom half fell into the frigid waters underneath. The beast whimpered and cried out in fear.
"No!" screamed Aerith, rushing forward to help. Not thinking she went too far, falling halfway through as well when the ice gave out under her weight.
"Aerith! Hold on!" Yuffie made to run out, terrified for her friends.
"Wait girl!" cried Imperius, who had made his way out of the hole. "On your stomach! The ice is less likely to break that way!" He grabbed the rope near Sleipnir and threw it to Yuffie who grabbed the bejeweled Sword of Navarre as well, hoping to use it to brace herself. She crawled out to where Aerith and the wolf were struggling, wincing slightly when the ice would groan and creak underneath her. At last she reached Aerith and helped her out of the ice. They placed the sword through the ice with the rope tied around it, and crawled to the lupine struggling before them. Imperius crawled out as well and held onto the sword to help pull them up if need be.
The wolf slipped further under. "Oh, please let's help him!" cried Aerith in fright. Yuffie grabbed the wolf's legs, but he proved too strong for her and pulled her under with him. "Yuffie!" cried both Aerith and Imperius.
Yuffie came back up, but the frightened wolf was ripping the flesh along her chest and shoulders to shreds with it's sharp claws. Aerith tried to grab the two of them as Imperius pulled on the rope as hard as he could. Finally they pulled the panicked creature out, and he settled quietly, chilled and exhausted by the ordeal. Yuffie, with Aerith's help, pulled herself out as well and they made their way back to shore, all of them collapsing from exhaustion.
Aerith embraced the wolf as she cried over him. "We can't go on like this, father!" she sniffed, looking at the old priest, who wore a sympathetic expression. "We must be allowed to live as human beings! Please help us... please..." She saw the injured ninja girl shivering and in pain lying next to her. "Oh, my poor Yuffie!" She caressed the young Wutaian's frozen hair. "Thank you so much! He didn't mean to harm you..." She turned back to Imperius. "Please, Father... our lives are in your hands..."
-
Aerith slept next to the wolf in the hole they dug they night, as Imperius tried to think of arguments that would convince Cloud of his sincerity and Yuffie began to plan her upcoming trip back into the Aquiline catacombs. She remembered how one tunnel had led right to the Cathedral of the manor. If she could sneak in there, she could let Cloud and Aerith in where they might confront the Bishop during the service of the Blessing. As the sun threatened to rise, she went over to where the two lovers lay, hoping to tell Aerith of her plans.
"Don't go over there right now." Imperius warned, a sad look on his face. "You don't want to see it at work, young one..."
But Yuffie never heard him, staring at a pale glow coming from the trap. Peering down in she saw Aerith awake, peering intently at the wolf, a sad yet hopeful expression on her face. As the first tendrils of light came over the horizon, the flower girl rose and continued to stare at her furry companion with the same heartwrenching look of despair and longing.
The light hit the black fur of the wolf, causing it to ripple strangely. Suddenly flesh began to appear where previously there had been none, and the strong form of Cloud Strife came into view. He opened his eyes, revealing blue orbs still slim-pupiled like a canine's and moved his face in the air as if smelling something. Turning he gazed at the now rippling form of Aerith. His mind still only half-human, Cloud sat up and stared at his love. Aerith, his fingers lit by the appearing sunlight reached out to touch him. The former squire sent out his hand as well, but just as they might come together, Aerith's form changed, feathers replacing her skin. Her eyes became avian, and the now fully human Cloud Strife stared despairingly at the bird flapping about in front of him. The hawk flew off as the warrior reached out his hand in vain.
The tears flowed freely down Yuffie's face as she witnessed the sad fate of her two friends. Cloud then let out a roar of anguished frustration that was part human and part beast, causing the ninja to jump back a bit, shocked by the primordial emotion it carried. He collapsed on his knees in the hole, and Yuffie turned to leave him alone in his inconsolable grief.
-
Cloud had dressed quickly, the trap proving to be not nearly enough to hold him and his dreadful vengeance. He was still steadfast in his aim to see the hateful Bishop dead by the end of the day. He ignored the pleas and protestations of his comrades as he prepared himself and Sleipnir for the assault. The only thing missing was the holy blade Zack had given him to help complete his objective. He looked though all the packs but could find it nowhere. His blue eyes flaming, he went confront the sullen ninja and priest.
"Just tell me one thing. Where is my friend's sword?"
"It's gone!" cried Yuffie, her tone sulky. "It fell through the ice last night!"
"Damn you..!" hissed Cloud, his face contorted with rage. "That sword was the last piece of honor I had left!"
"I'm sick of you and your honor!" Yuffie cried, standing and staring at him with angry brown eyes. "All you wanted that sword for was to help you on this stupid, suicidal quest to try and kill the Bishop! Why can't you understand you finally have a chance for life again! A new life with her!"
Cloud didn't even hear her, so enraged was he. The surpressed feelings of hurt and anger he had kept bottled up for two years finally came to the surface, overwhelming all his senses of reason and decency. He grabbed Yuffie roughly by the tunic as he cursed at her. "Damn you! Damn you! I needed that sword to kill the Bishop!"
"Cloud let her go and listen to her!" Imperius cried in desperation.
"Go ahead and kill me!" Yuffie spat angrily in his face. "Kill her too while you're at it! The only person you really care about is yourself anyways!" With an inhuman cry of rage, Cloud threw roughly to the ground.
Yuffie grunted in pain as she landed, her tunic dropping to reveal angry red lines of scratches running over her collarbone and shoulders. Cloud, shaken out of his berserk fury, looked in confusion at the wounds. He turned to Imperius. "What is this? How did that happen!"
Imperius gave him a level, penetrating stare. "That happened last night when she saved your life!"
Cloud's expression turned to one of shock. Almost as if by instinct, his eyes drifted to the frozen lake nearby as a strange half-memory came over him. A cracking sound. Cold. Fear. Turning back he lowered his head and closed his eyes in shame at how he had acted. Finally he peered down at Yuffie with a contrite, apologetic expression. "I'm sorry..." he whispered softly. He reached out a hand to help the young ninja off the ground, and brought her into an embrace once she was on her feet.
Yuffie smiled and hugged him back. "We just want to help you, Spike." she sniffed. "Both you and Aery..."
Cloud looked down at her warm, friendly eyes and once again gave her a half-smile. He then turned to Imperius. "All right, old man." he said with a sigh. "I'll give you till tomorrow. If Aerith is here with me at dawn, or whatever the start of a day without night is, we'll go to the Bishop. Together." Imperius beamed happily at him as they set to work on their plans.