Final Fantasy VII: The Story 2nd Instalment
Emerald Princess of Vernea
Chapter Six
The entire cavern began to shake and quiver as the statue growled, awakening all of the sleeping spirits within it. Dozens of white ghostly figures seeped out of the rock, each still dressed in full battle gear. They floated up towards the top of the cavern, beginning to swirl in a large circle across the ceiling until they were just a blur.
On the ground, Cloud and the others stood frozen, watching as the spirits swirled and swirled, combining their energy. Their swirling created a gust of wind that blew throughout the whole cave, blowing through Cloud's hair and Red XIII's fur, making them shiver and the hairs on the back of their necks stand on end. It also blew through the torch that Bugenhagen still held, and eventually it blew so hard that the red flame was blown out, leaving them in the dark red glow of the lava.
They turned their gazes back towards the giant stone carving in the wall, and watched as something began to emerge from the shadows of its face. Slowly but surely the creature emerged – tall and strong, with so much armour on its body that it looked gigantic. Like all the other ghostly figures its clothes were tattered and torn, and its body semi-transparent and ghost-like but rapidly turning solid. It didn't take more than one guess to figure out just who this creature was.
This was the ghost leader of the Gi tribe: Gi Natak.
Red XIII growled fiercely as he caught the scent of the Gi leader. That scent stirred up many memories within the depths of his mind – memories that had lain suppressed for many years until this moment. Memories of the fateful day the Gi tribe attacked Cosmo Canyon, of how many of the canyon's inhabitants were brutally slaughtered… And of how his mother fought with all her strength to fight off the Gi and protect the canyon.
Unable to contain his anger anymore, Red XIII suddenly leaped forward, his claws extended to their full length and his teeth so visible they glowed with the colour of the lava. His muscles were powered up by his anger – anger towards the Gi for taking his mother from him.
It was that powerful hatred that made him coil his muscles and leap high up into the air, high up above Gi Natak's head. He brought in his back legs and tucked them underneath his stomach, tilting his head down towards the head of the Gi leader. He began to fall and it was then that he pushed his hind legs out, giving him an extra burst of speed and strength as he powered down to the Gi leader's head, clamping his jaws around partially solid flesh.
Gi Natak flung his head around, trying to force the hound off his helmet. Red XIII kept his grip and stayed on, his body twisting back and forth as the ghostly leader fought back. Eventually Gi Natak reached up with one long arm and wrapped his fingers around Red XIII's waist, pulling him free before hurling him against one of the walls right above a pit of lava. He fell down onto a small ledge just above the lava, so close that even one slip would send him falling into it.
"Red XIII!" Cloud called.
He drew his sword and made to run forward, but as he did a sudden gust of wind made him stop and step back. The Gi leader stood with one arm raised up towards the ghostly swirl of spirits that covered the ceiling. As Cloud watched the swirl parted for just a second, allowing two fiery balls to drop down towards the ground where Yuffie and Cloud were standing.
Cloud managed to jump away in time as the fiery ball landed at his feet, but Yuffie never saw it coming. The fiery ball hit her back and sank right in, disappearing inside her body. She cried out briefly before her entire body convulsed and she fell down onto the floor. Bugenhagen was by her side in an instant, turning the girl onto her back and checking for injury.
The other fiery ball was hovering in front of Cloud, and Cloud could see directly into the fire. There was a small ghostly face burning inside the flames – the face of one of the Gi tribe. The fiery ball must have been some kind of protection or shield, allowing the Gi ghost to have some sort of physical presence. The ball suddenly darted forward, and Cloud raised his sword to attack.
On the far side of the cavern, Red XIII was just climbing to his feet. He looked over across the pool of bubbling lava and saw Cloud stuck in the middle of a fierce battle with the Soul Fire, fending off its fire attacks with the flat end of his sword. He could also see Yuffie, unconscious by Bugenhagen's side. What was important to him, however, was the Gi leader, who was standing and watching the fray with a smug satisfaction.
He jumped off the small ledge he was on, just as it crumbled and fell into the lava. He landed on the main floor again and charged forward, zipping past Cloud like a blur and right through the Soul Fire. The spirit inside the ball made a terrible screeching sound as Red XIII's claws sliced through the flame, and it disappeared with a faint pop and a sizzling sound. Red XIII didn't stop there, and charged once again towards the Gi leader to make another attack.
Bugenhagen watched silently as Red XIII and Cloud made their attack on the Gi leader. Yuffie was still unconscious, but as the Gi leader cried out in pain after one good strike from Cloud, the girl's eyes snapped open. For a moment there was a flicker of flame in her normally dark eyes, and she very slowly turned her head towards Bugenhagen. A cold grin appeared on her face as she looked at the old man, and she began to stand up.
Bugenhagen stared as Yuffie stood up menacingly. She turned towards him, her eyes empty but her face cold. Bugenhagen suddenly jumped back as he realised what was happening, but Yuffie held out her shuriken and placed it at the old man's throat. Fire was flickering faintly in her eyes, along with the laughing face of one of the Gi ghosts that had taken over her body.
"Move, old man," said Yuffie, although her voice was not her own. It carried with it the superior, laughing tone of the Gi inside her. That laugh grew even more sardonic as she began to lead the old man back, urging him towards the edge of one of the hot pits of lava. Bugenhagen had no choice but to move back.
Out of the corner of his eye, Cloud saw what was happening below.
"Red XIII!" he said.
Red XIII looked, and in that moment of distraction the Gi leader swung out with both his arms and threw the two away from him. The fell to the floor and skidded across the rock, moving until they hit the far wall. Dust began to settle around them, as they lay dazed and barely able to take note of what was going on.
Gi Natak made a horrible screeching sound that vibrated throughout the walls of the cavern. In response Yuffie nodded and continued to move forward, her shuriken just centimetres away from cutting Bugenhagen's neck. They were right next to the lava pit now, and Yuffie edged her shuriken forward to make Bugenhagen move over the edge.
"Stop!" cried a female voice from the far end of the cave.
Yuffie barely had time to turn as a huge white blob of fur suddenly pounced from behind and landed on her back. Bugenhagen quickly floated up and away from the pit as the girl fell forward onto the ground, her shuriken clattering beside her. The girl screeched as she turned her head, glaring as she saw the huge white body of Cait Sith sitting on her back, pinning her arms down so she could not move.
Cloud and Red XIII looked up from the ground and saw Cait Sith pinning Yuffie down. They stared in complete surprise, and in even more surprise as they saw Aeris standing at the entrance to the cave, a small bottle in her hand.
"Cloud!" she called to him. "Use this! It should kill it!"
She then threw the small blue bottle up into the air, throwing it towards Cloud. Cloud stood up and caught the bottle firmly in his hands. He pulled off the top and the healing scent of mint filled his lungs as he breathed in. It was normally used for healing, but to an undead creature it was deadly.
Seeing his possessed servant trapped beneath Cait Sith's bulk, Gi Natak roared fiercely and charged forward towards Cloud and Red XIII. Cloud quickly hurled the bottle up into the air, the glittering clear liquid of the potion flying out in small drops.
The bottle landed on the Gi leader's head, smashing into many pieces of blue glass that fell around the creature like rain. The liquid poured over Gi Natak's body and spread rapidly. Normally this potion would cure and heal wounds, but as it spread down over Gi Natak's ghoulish form, it made his skin steam.
He was still moving forward at that point, but as he continued to charge his form began to fade, rapidly being dissipated by the power of the potion. In fact when he reached Cloud he was nothing more than a transparent image, passing right through Cloud and disappearing on the other side in a rush of wind and dust. A single ball of materia fell when it disappeared, rolling to the ground.
Up in the air, the ghostly spirits that were still spinning in the air all screamed angrily, spinning faster and faster. With a sudden burst of speed they scattered, disappearing into the cave walls and out of sight once again.
The ghostly presence inside Yuffie began to disappear too. The girl shuddered and cried out as the ghost inside left her body and disappeared into the air, retreating now that its leader had been vanquished. Once it was free of Yuffie's body she fell limp, and Cait slowly climbed off her back.
The cave soon fell silent again. The aura of hatred that had filled the cave before had disappeared now, leaving the cave with a calm and almost serene feel. The giant stone carving of Gi Natak's mask had disappeared as well, leaving just a blank stone wall with a single doorway leading through to the final area.
With all the ghosts gone, Aeris walked fully into the cave and knelt beside Red XIII, who was just climbing to his feet. There was a gash on the side of his back leg, but luckily it wasn't serious. While she was busy helping him up, Bugenhagen floated down from the ledge he had been hiding on, and stopped beside Cloud.
"…Thank you, Cloud. Because of you, we survived," he said gratefully. Cloud nodded, and Bugenhagen turned to Red XIII. "Nanaki, you have grown strong, too."
Red XIII looked up at his grandfather. "……Oh yeah?" he asked. Although he desperately tried to hide it, it was clear that Red XIII was extremely proud to hear Bugenhagen say those words.
Bugenhagen nodded. "Now I know that it wasn't a mistake bringing you here…" he said. He went over to the fallen torch and picked it up. Its fire was out now, but as Bugenhagen passed his hand over the top of the wood it caught fire again, and the brighter light filled the cave as the old man walked over to the last door. "Come, I have something I want to show you."
With the torch now lighting the way again, Bugenhagen proceeded to walk through the final door with Red XIII. As they walked through, Cloud turned towards Aeris and Cait, who were standing behind him.
"What are you guys doing here, anyway?" he asked them. He was surprised when Cait suddenly turned away from him, the Mog's foot tapping anxiously on the ground. He turned to Aeris for answers, and was equally surprised to find the girl grinning at him happily.
"It was Cait's idea," Aeris said. "He didn't like the idea of you all coming down here alone, so we decided to help you. By the looks of things we came at a good time."
Cloud nodded. They certainly had come at a good time. If they hadn't have intervened, the spirit possessing Yuffie could have turned her on anyone. At least now the Gi leader was at rest and all the other spirits fading away into the Lifestream at last. Then he, Aeris and Cait followed on through the door, leaving Yuffie alone in the lava-filled cave.
"I told you I didn't like this place," she complained, although no one could hear her. "Why wouldn't anyone listen to me?"
In a fury she slammed her fist onto the ground, making the earth around her shake a little. Raising her eyes she saw the green ball of materia dropped by the Gi tribe leader. Although it was green on the outside, she could see a dark hole inside it, coming from the power of gravity it held within it. Cautiously she crawled over to it, and in a single quick movement she snatched it up and held it in her hands, before slipping it into her pocket. She then stood up and followed Cloud and the others.
Red XIII was surprised when he emerged from the tunnel. He was surprised because he found that he was no longer inside the canyon. Up above him there was the clear sky filled with the stars of the heavens, and a cool, gentle breeze was blowing through the air. There was a rugged path around him, as well as a tall cliff accessible only from the large rocks that jutted up out of the earth.
As Red XII stepped out and looked up, his one good eye opened up wide in an expression of both amazement and fear. For a second he couldn't move, instead listening to his heart beginning to beat faster than he thought possible, and feel the blood pulse through his head. His paws trembled as he walked up to the first rock, the rough surface feeling awkward against the soft padding. With a sudden burst of energy he jumped up to the next rock, his neck sore as he strained to look up.
"This is…" he said, but he couldn't finish his sentence. His voice simply refused to finish the words he was trying to say.
Behind him, Bugenhagen slowly floated towards the first rock, slowly nodding his head. "…The warrior who fought against the Gi," he said, his voice echoing slightly around the canyon. "He kept them from taking even one step into Cosmo Canyon. But he was never able to return to town…" Red XIII slowly turned and looked at him, and Bugenhagen nodded. "Look, Nanaki. Look at your father, at the warrior, Seto."
Red XIII did look. His gaze wandered back towards the top of the cliff, where a large stone figurine was standing. He had recognised it instantly, even after all these years. He remembered the large bulk of the hound-like body, with muscles powerful enough to carry more than twice his own weight. Around his head were the markings of his tribe – the many red feathers symbolising his age and his status. Red XIII had no choice but to recognise him.
The only thing now was that his entire body was stone. Many arrows had pierced the hound's skin and were still there, turned to stone like the rest of him. He was frozen in a proud, firm stance, glancing over the rest of the canyon like a guardian.
"That's… That's…… Seto…?"
Bugenhagen nodded again, and also looked up at the stone statue. "Seto continued to fight the Gi tribe here. …To protect this Canyon," he explained to the younger hound. "Even after the Gi's poisonous arrows turned his body to stone…… Even after they all ran away… Seto continued to protect us. And he continues to protect us, even now."
"Even now…" Red XIII whispered in awe. He could not believe the story he was hearing, nor could he believe that what he was seeing was actually real.
"You thought that he was a coward and ran away. But he, alone, risked his life to protect Cosmo Canyon. That is your father, Seto."
Red XIII closed his eyes and shook his head, and looked back. "That… that is Seto? …?" He turned his head round and looked at Bugenhagen. "Did mother know?"
"Ho Ho Hoooo… She knew," replied the old man, nodding as he laughed. "The two of them made me promise to keep this cave shut. They asked me to seal it myself and not to tell a soul. They said we should forget about this cave."
Gradually, Red XIII lowered his gaze to look at the stone floor, mumbling quietly under his breath. He could not believe that he had been so stupid for all these years. All this time he had always believed that his father had run away during the battle with the Gi, leaving his mother for dead so that he might live. He had built up a deep hatred for his father because of that. Now he was seeing his father again, the truth finally revealed, and he couldn't say a word.
Bugenhagen turned away from Red XIII and looked at Cloud and the others, who had entered the cave moments after they did.
"Cloud… Would you mind leaving the two of us alone?" he asked humbly.
Cloud looked over at Red XIII, whose tail was now hanging limp on the ground. Understanding, he nodded at Bugenhagen and then turned away, motioning Aeris, Cait Sith and Yuffie to follow him back through the cavern to wait for them. Once Cloud and the others were gone, Bugenhagen turned back to Red XIII.
"Nanaki," he said, his voice suddenly growing rather stern. "I want you to continue your journey with Cloud and the others."
Red XIII's ears pricked up in an instant, and he turned to face Bugenhagen. "Grandpa?" he exclaimed, shocked.
Before he could say any more, Bugenhagen raised a hand and shook his head. "Listen, Nanaki. Cloud says they are trying to save the planet. Honestly, I don't think it can be done. For even if they stop every reactor on the planet, it's only going to postpone the inevitable. Even if they stop Sephiroth, everything will perish. But, Nanaki. I've been thinking lately. I've been thinking if there was anything WE can do, as a part of the planet, something to help a planet already in misery… No matter what happens, isn't it important to try? Am I just wishing against fate? I am too old to do anything about it… This year, I'll be 130. Ho Ho Hoooo. That is why, Nanaki, you must go with them! For my sake!"
"Grandpa…"
"I wanted to show you your real father before you left…" the old man continued. As he spoke he turned away, his voice suddenly quietening down to almost a whisper. "I'm so glad that you came back while I was still alive to show you."
"Grandpa… don't talk like that," Red XIII said, turning his head away to hide the faint specks of salty water forming in the corner of his eye. He didn't want Bugenhagen to see him cry. "I don't want to think of life… without you……"
"Ho Ho Hoooo. Well, I've had a long life," the old man began.
"Grandpa! You must live!"
Bugenhagen looked up in surprise at the volume of Red XIII's outburst. He had raised his voice until he was almost shouting, and there was an expression on his face unlike anything he had ever seen before on Red XIII's face. For a moment he seemed like a completely different person.
"I'll see to it," the hound said firmly, digging his claws into the rock. "I'll see what's happening to the planet. And I'll come back to tell you."
"Nanaki…"
The old man watched as Red XIII suddenly jumped down from the rock he was standing on and landed a metre away from Bugenhagen. Bugenhagen could see something different about the way Red XIII moved – there was a sudden fluidity in the way his muscles uncoiled to let him reach the floor, and something very familiar in the determined gaze in his eye.
"I am Nanaki of Cosmo Canyon!" shouted Red XIII, his voice raging with a strength he had never shown before. "The son of the warrior, Seto! I'll come back a warrior true to that noble name! So please, Grandpa…"
Bugenhagen continued to stare at Red XIII, unable to believe that the young hound he was looking at was still the same one. He stared and stared until an eerie silence spread between them, only broken by a sudden faint sound.
Red XIII turned around and looked behind him, just in time to see a drop of crystal clear water fall down onto the rocks. It splashed into many tinier drops, each one so clear they were able to give a perfect reflection of Red XIII's face before they hit the rock again and trickled down the side. Another drop of water fell beside it, and Bugenhagen looked up, his mouth falling open as he gazed.
"That's… Seto's…… Seto……"
"Seto……" Red XIII stammered, his voice shaking. "Fa… Father…" He coiled his muscles and leaped back up onto the next rock, just in time to see another drop of clear water fall from above and splash onto the ground.
On top of the cliff, the petrified form of Seto stood firmly as it overlooked the canyon. Although he was seemingly silent, Red XIII and Bugenhagen watched together as a small stop of water appeared at the edge of Seto's stone eye, and began to roll down the side of his face. It dripped off the end of his face and tumbled towards the ground – another tear of sadness and joy.
Seeing those tears fall from his father's face, Red XIII could bear it no longer. He threw back his head and howled loud into the night, the sound of his voice echoing inside the canyon just as his father's tears fell onto the ground. Father and son… united at last… yet never to touch again.
By the time midnight came, Cloud and the others were still waiting around the campfire in the middle of Cosmo Canyon. They had left Red XIII and Bugenhagen alone in the depths of the canyon, knowing it was safe now that all the ghosts were finally laid to rest.
Slowly, Cloud looked around at the others. "Shall we get goin'?" he asked, breaking the silence.
One by one the others looked up at him. Although they had known all along that Red XIII planned to leave their group at Cosmo Canyon, saying goodbye suddenly made it seem all the more real. It was probably easier to leave without saying goodbye, but it didn't stop them from feeling a little sad at the thought.
"So this is it, Red XIII…" said Aeris sadly.
"That's just the way it goes," said Bugenhagen. "…You came in handy at times…"
So they all headed towards the gate. They said their farewells to the guard who was still guarding the entrance to the canyon, before Aeris and the others all began to walk back down the steps towards the buggy, which was still standing at the bottom of the stairs. Cloud stopped at the top of the stairs and looked back at the canyon. When he was ready he turned away, and began to walk down the stairs.
"Wait for me! I'm coming, too!"
Cloud stopped and turned around, his eyes opening wide as he saw Red XIII leaping down the stairs of the canyon. He came to a stop beside Cloud, his furry red body breathing heavily from his long run from the dark depths.
"Mmm?" Cloud asked, confused. He looked up as Bugenhagen then began to walk down the steps towards him.
"Cloud," the old man said. "Please look after Nanaki."
Cloud stared, looking from Bugenhagen to Red XIII and back to Bugenhagen again. "What happened?" he asked.
"I think I grew up a little," Red XIII replied simply. "That's what happened!"
Before Cloud could say anything more, Red XII ran briskly past him and down the stairs towards the car. As the others all exclaimed and cheered at Red XIII's cheery return to the group, Cloud looked back at Bugenhagen. The old man was smiling happily, with a knowing look that made Cloud feel that this would not be the last time they visited Cosmo Canyon.
End of Part Five
Part Six: The Man With No Past