Origins
By Keedra2173
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A/N: Welcome to the next chapter of Origins. I had this idea floating around after finishing the last chapter of Reunion but it didn't want to form right. Enjoy.
Princess Guard
Gaia whispered gently to the last of its chosen. Her voice filled the slum church with the stories of calamity, the chosen, and the path to cleansing.
Aeris was only 6 but she could hear the voice of the planet singing. The images that filled her mind as the planet spoke made her happy and sad.
Filled with joy and sorrow, each story Gaia told her child prepared her for her ultimate fate. It was not blatant but Gaia knew she must prepare this child for the Calling. HOLY and METOER would destroy the dead places and spread her gifts among the deaf children.
"Aeris. Aeris, where are you?" called a female voice.
"I'm in here, mother," called the little girl.
Elmera Gainsborough stepped into the church to see her adopted daughter sitting in the front pew smiling. She sighed quietly to herself, she should have known. Ever since she found the girl, the child would somehow disappear and sit in this place.
"What brings you here some much, little one?" question Elmera, "Every time you disappear, I find you here. What about this place calls you?"
"I can here Gaia here. She tells me stories of battles and friendships. It's really nice and her voice is so pretty," answered Aeris.
Elmera was unsure what to say to that, for she didn't hear anything. However, that did mean anything; she still remembered the visit from the Turks not too long ago and perhaps her child really did hear the planet.
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Michael Smid had explored many places in his time. It was something he'd done ever since he was young. At first he just explored his house and has he grew the village he was born and the surrounding lands. It just continued as he grew older.
Now he was feeling the need to settle down and show the world many of the things he'd found but he still had the urge to explore. It was as if something was calling him, telling him to keep looking. He really hoped during this trip he would find it. He had met a nice girl in Mideel and wanted to court her.
Shaking himself from these thoughts, Michael looked around the city he was in. It was unlike anything he'd ever seen. The buildings were white and seemed to sing. As he explored the city, he came across a build that could only be a palace or a temple. It was larger than the others and it seem to speak of power and wisdom. Making a decision, Michael entered the building and started looking around.
He spotted a set of doors behind what looked like a throne. That call that always seemed to be there got stronger as he studied the doors. The writing on them was peculiar; it spoke of weapons and sacrifices. Michael stared at the doors. He shouldn't be able to read them, but the words were crystal clear to him and as he read them the call got stronger.
Gathering his courage, the explorer pushed on the doors not believing they would open. He was very surprised when he nearly fell into the room beyond.
It was a fairly large room, filled with many types of weapons. Michael was awed, much of what he had read about the ancients had said that they were a peaceful people and did not know much about war and combat. Clearly this room told a different story.
As he walked down the room, he noticed that it was divided into sections by weapon. Broadswords in one area, katanas and rapiers in others. It was strange though some sections looked complete while others seemed to missing things. There was even a section with guns which completely contradicted everything he'd read. Taking a breath, Michael walked down the gun section just to see what was there.
As he neared the end of the section, it changed to staffs. Each staff was beautiful, some deadly in their beauty. Walking through this section he felt the call get stronger. As the explorer turned a corner, he spotted a desk piled high with papers. Deciding to take a look, he sat down and pulled one of the papers to him.
Journal Entry 3453, 5 Delta 2468
The infection is spreading rapidly. I have seen many of our people succumb and they can no longer hear Gaia. They only talk about serving a being they call Mother. It is frightening.
I have heard Gaia whispering to me, she tells me of weapons I need to craft. Each is unique and strange, one is very different.
Gaia had told me to go to the Temple and petition the priest for all the remaining white materia and the small piece of black materia that was not transformed into the pyramid. I did as directed and was surprised when the priest had the box waiting for me.
When I questioned, her she merely smiled and said that I was not the only one Gaia spoke to.
I walked out of the temple in a daze. It was so shocking I expected to have to argue with the priests but it was unnecessary.
I will need more but I can already feel the shape of this weapon and what it will be. I had hoped for something easy, staffs usually are, but this looks like it will be a lot of work. Perhaps it will be my masterpiece.
Journal Entry 3454, 7 Delta 2468
The staff is coming together nicely. I had found the perfect material for the shaft. I had wandered far from the city up into the crater and I felt a pull towards one area. When I got to the area, I was amazed to find a decent sized deposit of mythril. It will be of great help in making the staff.
There is only one other thing to add, but I am not sure what it is. I will begin forging tonight.
Journal Entry 3455, 15 Sigma 2469
It is finished. It has been long since I have written my thoughts down. Once I began crafting and forging the staff it consumed me. I could do little else. I only did the bare minimum for my body to function.
It was ecstasy and madness. Many times I felt as if I was the tool and someone else was doing the work. It was glorious; I could feel it as each component was part of me and that I was only reuniting the pieces.
Towards the end of the process, just before sealing the staff; I had the urged to cut myself. I did not question it. Once I cut myself, I let my blood flow over the weapon. It was amazing to watch, once my blood touched the staff, it seemed the staff drank it. There was a bright flash and when I looked again at my forge the staff was gone.
I do not know where it went, but Gaia has assured me that it will be retrieved and the purpose for which it was intended will be fulfilled.
I write this final entry because the forging of that weapon has drained me and I can hear the infected pounding on the door. I have hidden my best works behind the throne, doors that can only be seen by those with my blood.
It will be found one day and I hope that the descendant of my brother Marshon, will be able to call my masterpiece and give it to the one who will wield it. I could not call it back but I will write the phrase so that my brother's descendant can try.
I must hurry these papers will be all that's left of me besides the weapons I have hidden. Good luck child and I hope that you are safe.
Ι, απόγονος του Marshon, Επιστρατεύω τη φρουρά πριγκίπισσα (I, descendant of Marshon, call forth the Princess Guard)
Michael stared incredulously at the paper. It was a journal and it claimed that there were descendants of the Ancients still around. He did not know what to do, this was a great find but what would happen to this place. He had always explored and sometimes he took items from places but he never took what could be considered sacred. This place was special and he did not want Shinra or their butchers here.
With that thought, Michael pushed away from the desk and prepared to leave.
Just before he left the area with the staffs, he had the urge to say the phrase at the end of the journal. Deciding there would be no harm, after all it's not like he was a descendant of the Ancients, and they had all died out.
"I, descendant of Marshon, call forth the Princess Guard." There was a flash of blinding light and when he opened his eyes floating in front of him was the most beautiful staff he'd ever seen.
The black and red shaft shimmered with a metallic sheen and it was topped with wings of intertwined white and black materia. Michael felt the call in him peak and he grabbed the staff. He had found it and now he could build his museum.
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Shortly after the events in Gold Saucer and the Keystone
Cloud, Aeris, and Tifa walked into the house/museum where they had got the information on the Keystone. Perhaps the owner had information on the Temple of the Ancients.
It had not changed much since their last visit if anything it seemed to emptier as if the man had sold more items.
"Well, hello there. I did not expect you back so soon. Did you find that Keystone?" questioned a voice from behind them.
"Yes, we did but it was stolen from us," answered Aeris.
"Ah, too bad," stated the owner, "Feel free to look around. I decided to start selling off my collection. My wife wants me to spend more time at home and I really don't need to work anyway."
Nodding to the man the three friends split up and started looking around.
Michael didn't say anything else to them. For when they had entered the call had returned. He had not felt it for a long time; following the feeling he soon found himself watching one of the girls. She had light brown hair and was dressed in red and pink. She also held a fighting staff and seemed intrigued by the box he'd placed the Princess Guard in.
Aeris was amazed at this place; it held so many treasures and so much history. She heard a whispering as she wandered and decided to follow it. The whisper soon led her to a long box slightly hidden in the back of the museum. It was locked but she knew she needed what was inside.
"Hey Aeris, did you find anything?" asked Tifa as she walked up to her friend. Aeris started she hadn't heard the other girl come up behind her.
"Maybe, I think I want what's in this box but it's locked. I'm going to find the owner," answered Aeris. Just as she turned to look for the guy, Cloud walked up to the box and laid his hand on it and spoke, "It is almost time. The sacrifice must be made in order for HOLY to be released. In the release the final cleansing will begin."
Everyone stared at the blond warrior. Cloud lifted his hand from the box and a click could be heard throughout the store.
"Well that's interesting. I haven't been able to open that box since I sealed it," stated Michael, "You can have what's inside for a piece of mythril."
Aeris and Tifa shared a look and then looked in askance at Cloud. That yielded nothing as Cloud seemed to be lost in whatever had gripped him.
"Sure, I've got a small piece," stated Tifa. The martial artist dug through her pack and pulled out the little piece she'd gotten from the guy sleeping in the cave.
Taking the metal, Michael gestured them to the box and left them alone.
Aeris gingerly lifted the lid and inside was a staff. Its beauty was awe-inspiring. Lifting it from the box, she heard the voice of Gaia singing to her. Knowing her time was soon she whispered a prayer for strength.
"Hey you girls ready? Nice staff Aeris," came the voice of Cloud. The two girls gave the blond man concerned looks but did not say anything about what happened to him.
Aeris kept quiet because she knew the meaning behind the words he had spoken. Tifa remained quiet because she did not want to be reminded of the words he had spoken right after she'd found him in MIdgar.
Wondering about the looks the girls were giving him, Cloud merely shrugged and started questioning Michael on the temple.
Aeris hugged the Princess Guard to her. She knew she would not get to wield it long but it would be with her in that final moment.
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A/N: Review people. It makes me happy.