This chapter is where things start to get interesting. More characters are introduced, and we get some insight into the doll Marlene picked up, as well as the master of the castle.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own FF7 or the song 'You'll be in my Heart' by Phil Collins.

Enjoy!

Chapter Two

Journey and Intentions

The sunlight glittered on the small patch of carpet that was not covered by the rug. The curtains fluttered a little, and the sleeping lump on the bed shifted, rolling over and landing on the floor. "Ooof!" the jumbled blankets quivered, and a small head covered with short black hair peeked out. With a great yawn, Yuffie snaked her way out of the covers, shaking her head blearily like a dog shaking water out of it's hair.

BRRRRING!

"AHH!" Yuffie flew into the air, grabbing her bedpost as though holding on for dear life. An equally shocked Tifa ran past, her hair frizzy and matted.

A few seconds later, Yuffie heard her picking up the phone.

"Hello? Oh, hi Aeri- what? Aerith, what's wrong?" Yuffie's head perked up, a frown creasing her face.

"No, she's not here...oh god, we'll be there right away!" There was a click as Tifa slammed the phone on the hook.

"Yuffie!" she screamed. Pattering feet sounded, and Tifa was standing in her doorway, panting and with worried eyes.

"Marlene's missing."

()()()()()

Aerith paced up and down the length of the living room. She paused in her step, clasping her hands together, bending her head.

"A few people reported that they saw a small girl making her way toward the forest at the base of the mountain." The officer read down his notes.

Aerith inhaled sharply, eyes widening, turning to look at the officer, who continued reading his notes, oblivious.

"...brown hair, white dress, carrying something small...like-"

"A doll..." Aerith finished for him, her voice a whisper. Zack glanced at her stricken face, rounding on the officer.

"You're sure of these words? Why would these people have not reported a little girl walking toward that place by herself, at night?"

The officer shifted uncomfortably. "Well, there was a power outage last night sir, some lines were damaged by some kind of animal..." he trailed off, seeing the look on Zack's face. He cleared his throat. "And, well, to be frank, many people in this town are rather superstitious- a young child walking there by herself at night? Many wouldn't have dared to look at her, let alone approach her."

Aerith sighed, nodding. The door burst open and she turned, half-hoping, half wondering.

Tifa and Yuffie stood in the doorway, panting, with wide eyes. They stared at Aerith who ran toward them, taking their hands in her own.

"She went into the forest, up the mountain..." Aerith whispered, her eyes pleading.

Tifa and Yuffie's faces went pale. "The...forest...?" Yuffie murmured, her mouth opening in horror. "The...mountain...?" Tifa trailed off, sharing a look with Yuffie. She was shaking, horrified. Tifa closed her eyes for a moment before nodding. Yuffie nodded too, unable to look in Aerith's eyes. "Of course... we'll go with you."

Aerith bent her head, murmuring thanks, before straitening up.

Tifa and Yuffie glanced at each other, feeling sick. Heavy guilt lay within their eyes, and the determination to set things right.

"Thank you for everything, officer, Zack," Aerith said, smiling briefly and inclining her head to each in turn. "Now, if you'll excuse me," she turned, walking down the hall to her room, emerging with a long silver staff clutched in one hand, materia in the other. She slipped a few in the slots on the rod, placing the rest in a pouch around her waist. "Do you have what you need?" She asked the two girls, grabbing a red jacket off of the coat rack and sliding it on her shoulders. Tifa nodded, putting on here black gloves with the metal knuckle, while Yuffie said, "My stuff's in the car." Aerith nodded.

Zack was gaping at her. "Hold on a second!" He demanded, coming toward her. "You can't possibly be planning on going there!"

Aerith's eyes flashed to him, and there was such a determination there that Zack couldn't help but deflate slightly for a moment. He regained himself. "Please, Aerith think this through. You can't help Marlene if you die!" He grasped her shoulders. She met his gaze levelly.

"I won't die." Her voice was quiet. "I can't die, not now." She stared him down, with the power of her eyes. "Please understand that, Zack."

"Aerith..." He sighed. "Can't you let the police handle it? Or me?"

Aerith shook her head, and for the first time there was anger in her eyes.

"Marlene may not be my daughter by blood, but in every way that counts, she IS my child. And I will not stop until I have found her."

Zack stared at her for a minute, ignoring the officer that glanced back and forth at them. A small smirk came on his face, and Aerith smiled in response. "I know I can't convince you otherwise when you're like this," Zack said, lightly pretending to punch her jaw. She giggled, pretending to slap his face.

"Thank you," she said sincerely. "I'll let you know, somehow, if I need you."

"You do that," Zack said, laughing a little. "Or I might just come without you asking."

Aerith nodded, smiling again. A tear escaped her eye and she wiped at it, giving Zack a tight hug. "Thank you...for being my friend."

Zack nodded into her hair. "Hey, no problem. I'll always be your friend."

They stepped away from each other, and at the door Zack smiled, waving with two fingers, playfully mocking.

Aerith stared back at her home for a moment, before smiling and waving back, and getting into the backseat of the car.

To begin their journey.

()()()()()

Almost...

The little voice reached her as easily as though she was whispering in her ear. Marlene gazed ahead, and could see, flickeringly, the ghost of a woman leading her along. She looked just like Lucrecia, with her hair and shimmering eyes, though unlike the doll, Marlene couldn't touch the shadowy form.

That is me, as I once was. My spirit resides in this doll, but a part of me will always remain here...perhaps, if you watch, you will learn something...

"Like what?" Marlene whispered, making her way through the twisting trees as she had with Yuffie and Tifa before.

Like how I came to be this way...but what you see from this point on may frighten you, child...but you cannot turn back. You've been caught in his snare now, though hopefully he won't know...

"Your son?" Marlene stopped, staring at the gate, which loomed over her.

This castle is full of illusion, but much is real and true as well. And that fact is one of those things. Yes, my son, master of this castle...Are you ready?

Marlene nodded. "Yeah..." She paused, looking at the ground. "Lucrecia?"

Yes...?

Marlene fumbled with the fabric of her dress, biting her lip. "Everything will- momma won't- everything will be alright, won't it?"

The doll seemed to sigh, and the ghostly form of the woman Lucrecia had once been looked back, and smiled sadly at the child.

That is in your mother's hands now. But I hope so...I truly hope so, little one...

()()()()()

The sun was high in the sky now. Aerith looked up at it, almost absentmindedly.

"Aerith...do you think she'll be at that...tower, thing?" Yuffie gazed into the distance, at the tower, which she had tried in vain to not think about.

Aerith nodded. "Yes...I- I feel it, inside me...she is there..." She glanced back at the other two, who were wearing very worried expressions.

"Don't you...find it odd," Tifa began, as they started on their way once more. "That there is a tower in the middle of all this?"

"No..." Aerith murmured. "Not particularly. No one that enters here has come out again, and you can't see the tower from the town. There might even be a castle..."

"Oh." Tifa bent her head, looking away for a minute. "Yeah..."

Yuffie sighed. "At least the monsters we've run into have been easy to beat...it would be just our luck to run into a tonberry here...or a cactar."

"True..." Their pace was very swift, not a run, but faster than a jog. Their rests were few and far in-between, but Aerith still felt that it wasn't fast enough.

An involuntary shiver stole over her, and she craned her neck, looking around.

"Are you okay?" Her friends asked, slowing for a moment as they stared at her in concern. Aerith nodded, smiling, trying to shake it off.

"I just had a weird feeling that's all...like someone's watching us..."

()()()()()

He stared coldly at the scene before him, the pool in the basin which he stood over.

"She's coming. Her daughter may be under protection, but she is not..." He smirked. Glancing around the darkened room, he met a pair of bright blue eyes that were staring at the face in the pool, as though unable to look away.

He chuckled. "Foolish scum," he spat, "But I suppose this means that you will do you job well, then? She won't move forward."

The blue eyes flicked to him, their expression blank. They moved back to the pool, and a strange emotion seemed to be fighting it's way into them.

He laughed again. "Very good. Drown her in the darkness, for then she will be here forever...as you are."

The eyes flicked to him, and this time there was anger- fierce anger that seemed to reverberate throughout the dark room. Without another word, the owner of the blue eyes turned and left- the only sound being the flapping of wings...

The man left in the room smirked again. Oh yes, the darkness would consume them all...

()()()()()

The grass towered over her, so long that the blades curled down, brushing her forehead as she walked beneath them. Marlene shivered, disliking the feeling, as though fingers were pulling at her skin. She clutched Lucrecia even tighter as she continued to walk along. A black shape lined in red flew over them, and she jumped, a scream rising to her throat.

It's okay...he's not going to bother you.

Marlene nodded, gulping. "Why isn't anything bothering me...?" She whispered, eyes darting around the darkening path.

I know a fair bit about illusion...most of these poor souls are far too lost to notice you here. They will only react if they get a direct order from...him...

"Oh...and your son still doesn't know I'm here?"

Not yet. It may be inevitable for him to discover you though. But if the need arises, I have help ready.

Marlene nodded shakily. "Okay. I trust you, Lucrecia..."

The darkness seemed like a void, ready to consume them all. Marlene tried to bite back the fear at the sight of it, the darkening path that was before her, but somehow could not do it. "Lucrecia..." She murmured.

Yes...?

"Will you...sing, for me? My momma does it, to help me not be scared."

I only know one lullaby...but, very well. The voice seemed to clear her throat.

Come stop your crying...it will be all right...come, take my hand, hold it tight...

I will protect you from, all around you...

"I will be here, don't you cry..." Marlene sang softly, voice shaking. "That's what my momma sang..." her mouth moved with the familiar words, as Lucrecia sang them.

Because you'll be in my heart, no matter what they say.

You'll be here in my heart...

"Always..." Marlene whispered. She wiped at the tears that fell like a waterfall down her face. "Thank you," she said. "I do feel better now."

I'm glad...

The darkness seeped over them, and Marlene gasped a little. "I can't see anything!"

You're eyes will adjust a little, but overall, I will have to guide you. Can you see my outline?

Marlene nodded. "Okay..."

Just follow me...

She had to squint, but she could see the still shimmering form of Lucrecia, faintly glittering in the dark. A twig snapped, and the air shattered at the sound.

No!

Marlene could hear voices, so many voices, and growls and footsteps...the ghostly Lucrecia vanished and she was left in the dark. "Lucrecia!" She cried, running and stumbling upon the uneven ground.

He knows! Run Marlene!

Her breath came in pants, picking herself up as she tripped again. "Help!" she cried. "Momma!" She was sobbing, she could feel blood flowing down her legs, and sharp branches pulled at her cheeks and clothes...

The ground fell beneath her, and she screamed, falling...

Vincent! Save her!

She fell into the darkness,

()()()()()

The scream cracked through the air.

"Marlene!" Aerith gasped, forgetting everything else and running pell-mell toward the gate that had seemed to rise before them.

She paid the gate no mind, nor her friends and their cries. Her staff was gripped tightly in one hand, the other pushing an assortment of plants out of her way. Creatures of every size and shape were running at her, but she just ran faster.

Something black and red and blue loomed over her, swooping down...

And everything was dark.

There we go! The next chapter is mapped out in my head, and it will be very sweet...but sad, too. Cloud will make more of an appearence (yes, that was him with the 'blue eyes'. ) as we learn a little about his motives in all of this.

Reviews:

greensally: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. I wrote more, and I hope you are satisfied. (For now)

That's all so far- keep in mind, reviews, favorites, and alerts inspire me to write faster.

They make me smile inside :)

And for those who haven't yet, check out my other FF7 stories, all about C/A or Y/V, even some R/T.

Catch ya on the flip side-

AerithHeartilly