Intro; OK. I will say this now. This chapter has taken me 4 years... 4 YEARS! And I still HATE it no seriously though. This is getting beyond a joke. I really lost my way with this story. I have been playing the original game again though and as a rescued Vincent I was like; "huh... didn't I start a story about you and Sephiroth... oh crap DX".
Look I don't want to make any promises on this. Damn, I don't know if anyone will even read this chapter. BUT, I did have a sit down and a really think about where I want to go with it so... that's a start I guess and as I said in the first chapter, this is my first fanfic. I feel I need to finish it, you know. Long story short, guys... IM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING...
Warnings; Action sequences, gore and noob writing skills (feel free to be grammar police and point to all my errors. It isn't trolling here.)
Chapter 5;
Genesis
Genesis stood over the sealed gate in the southern plains. The crystallised water had lost its dark glow meaning that the gate was truly dead, like all the other gates he had checked. Angeal was pacing at the edge of the gate, worry etched across his handsome features. He had returned from searching the western plains nearly an hour ago. Sadly the gates there were as dead as the one they now stood over.
Genesis had been watching his friend for some time now, trying to think of something to say or do to snap him out of his depression. He hated feeling so powerless.
A light almost soundless thud sounded behind Genesis. Angeal span towards it, a glimmer of hope shone in his eyes. Without turning Genesis spoke,
"What news, Aerith?" Aerith, the strongest of the angel's of light sighed.
"The 3 gates in the northern plains are all dead and the 5 in the east are dead as well." Angeal sighed as Genesis lowered his head. This had not surprised him. It seemed as though whoever had dragged Sephiroth, Cloud and Zack through the gate didn't want anyone to follow behind them,
"Have you heard from Cid?" Cid Highwind was a spirit who had passed into Eden. Despite the fact that he was permitted eternal rest, he and a few others had far too much fight to live in eternal peace. So instead they would aid the angels whenever the demons would enter the Promised Land.
"He, Tifa and Barrett are still searching Eden." Angeal pinched the bridge of his nose and sat at the edge of the gate. Genesis could see how tired he was. He himself hadn't had a good rest in two days now. Genesis walked closer to Angeal,
"You should get some rest. Aerith and I will meet with the others." Angeal smiled up at Genesis.
"Thanks Genesis... But Zack wouldn't give up on me, so I won't on him." Genesis rolled his eyes. Angeal could be so overly dramatic at times.
"I'm not asking you to give up on him. I'm asking you to rest. You need your strength."Angeal stood up.
"We need check on Cid and Barrett. We may be able to help speed up the search in Eden." Genesis chuckled and shook his head.
"The wandering soul knows no rest. Very well oh noble one." He turned towards Aerith. "Take Angeal to aid Cid. I will meet you there as soon as possible" Aerith cocked her head, her green eyes glittered in confusion.
"What are you going to do?"
"I am going to petition Minerva for aid." Aerith and Angeal stiffened. Genesis chuckled,
"When the war of the beasts brings about the worlds end
The goddess descends from the sky
Wings of light and dark spread afar
She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting. She will aid us." Angeal sighed. Out of all the angels, none were more loyal to the goddess Minerva than Genesis. Because of this, he was highly favoured by her. However, Minerva was a neutral god and would rarely get involved in the battle against light and dark unless one side would attempt to upset the natural order. Angeal lifted his head,
"All right Genesis. Just... please, be careful." Genesis didn't reply, he simply sped his massive black wings and flew off towards the very centre of the Promised Land. Aerith stood next to Angeal watching after Genesis.
"Don't worry Angeal. If anyone could convince her to aid us, it's Genesis." Angeal turned and smiled softly at her.
"Come on. Cid and Barrett will need all the help they can get." Aerith grinned and saluted,
"Yes sir!" Angeal chuckled. Aerith had a good heart and could always lighten his mood. But he couldn't lose focus. There was no telling what horrors Zack, Sephiroth and Cloud were facing in hell, he had to find a way to help them.
Vincent
With a final leap, Vincent jumped to the familiar cliff high above the sprawling landscape off Bahamut's territory. There, hidden in the face of the cliff, was the entrance to the Mythril mine. Vincent stared at the cave entrance for a while. Many malevolent creatures made their home in such caves but he had no choice. It was the safest way out of the Dragon lord's land. It was the safest way to Him.
He turned to look down at the progress his companions were making. Zack, Cloud and Yuffie were close behind, jumping from ledge to ledge. Cloud was surprisingly quick as the both moved together up towards him. He shouldn't be able to keep up with the more experienced Arch-Angel, especially not carrying Yuffie on his back.
Speaking of more experienced Arch-Angels.
Sephiroth was lagging behind. Even from this distance, Vincent could see the Arch angel was not tired. And each time he jumped, he moved with the same fluid grace as he was ways had. 'Not injured then' Vincent thought. Something was bothering the general and had been since they started the climb.
Vincent stepped back as Cloud and Zack landed with a thud before him.
"I can walk now you know..." Yuffie said with more than a bit of bitterness.
"Well if you had stopped when I said, you wouldn't have landed on that Malboro head and it wouldn't have bit your leg." Zack said flatly. "And anyway you should be thanking Cloud here for being such a gentleman and carrying you while you leg healed." As Cloud lowered Yuffie from his shoulders, his hand shot up to scratch his nose. It was obviously, an attempt to hide his blush.
"Well if you weren't such a slowpoke, I wouldn't have been so far ahead." Yuffie said crossing her arms.
"Well if you hadn't eaten the last rations we had, I might have had more energy," Zack replied, mimicking Yuffie's stance.
"Well if you had any hunting ability-"
"Well if you would pitch in every now and then-"
"Well if you weren't such a bossy pants-"
"Well if you weren't such a pain in my-"
"Zack..." The raven haired Arch-Angel startled at Vincent, like he'd forgotten he was there. Yuffie pointedly stuck her tongue out at Zack who suddenly resembled a guilty puppy. Vincent fixed Yuffie with his flattest gaze. She should know better than this by now. When Yuffie notices Vincent's gaze, she scoffs
"Look the fight and my battle wound had some use. That thing had a hoard of goodies. I got candy, flash bombs, feathers, grenades and this really cool Chocobo pushy which are bound to come in handy," Vincent raised an eye at the stuffed animal that Yuffie was waving in front of his face. She then turns to Cloud. "Hey thanks Spiky. You move fast, you know, for a feather head. I might just name my new Chocobo after you," Cloud smiled and shook his head.
"Hm... I guess I'll take that as a compliment." The young ninja gave a toothy grin.
Sephiroth chose that exact moment to land on the edge of the ledge. "Something is following us." Zack tensed immediately and Cloud reached for his sword. It was strange but Sephiroth's voice had changed tone. It was hard to describe what the difference was but the deep rumble seemed to electrify every muscle and bone in Vincent's body. Every note commanded action. Every pitch commands his full attention. Yuffie blinked at Sephiroth.
"...ok, what is it?" Sephiroth stared at Yuffie, pursed his lips then turned to look back down the mountain.
"I... don't know." Yuffie shook her head.
"Look Seph."Yuffie stared, taking a step towards Sephiroth. "I get it you know. This place, it plays trick with ya'. Makes you see things-"
"It moves like you." Yuffie let out an indignant HUH as Sephiroth turned and fixed Vincent with an intense gaze. The red of the sky only seemed to enhance his dizzyingly green eyes.
Vincent's now healed ear throbbed in memory.
"Moves like me?"
"No sound, no disturbances in the air, even when I feel its eyes on us, the sensation is cloaked" Sephiroth said without breaking eye contact.
'Could the beast be so close already' Vincent thought as he moved towards the edge of the cliff. Vincent looked down the mountain, where they had just come from. He sensed Sephiroth move closer (can hear his breath, his heart).
"It's almost like it isn't there..."Vincent turned to look at the general who was looking down the mountain again.
"How do you know it is?" Sephiroth smiled, eyes falling closed.
"Where it moves the area becomes... too empty, too quiet. Hard to track for long." It could only be-
"No..."
Sephiroth
Sephiroth turned to look at Vincent whose crimson eyes had widened slightly.
"You know what is." It wants a question. Vincent suddenly turned and started moving towards the cave. "Vincent-"
"We have to go," there was no fear in Vincent's voice as he spoke (Sephiroth doubted there ever would be) but something was definitely wrong. Zack however chose this moment to jump in.
"Why, what is it?"
"Doesn't matter." Cloud was suddenly in front of Vincent, with a hand on his chest. The young fledgling's eyes were filed with a determination that somehow reminded Sephiroth of Angeal.
"We will decide that," Cloud said evenly.
"Cloud-"
"Vincent. What. Is. It?" With his back to him, Sephiroth couldn't see Vincent's face. He moved towards the Arch-fiend, aware that he was approaching a demon from behind (one that could and probably would attack if truly startled). He slowly put a hand on Vincent's shoulder, turning the demon to face him. Vincent turned willingly but he didn't meet his eye, instead is gaze seemed to be hazy. Under Sephiroth hand, Vincent's wing twitched, under his cloak. 'Lost in thought are we?'
"Vincent." The Demon met his gaze. "What's wrong?" Vincent held his gaze for a moment before sighing and looking down. His next words were quiet, more to himself than Sephiroth.
"We can't beat them both..." Sephiroth cocked his head.
"Both?" Vincent Looked up and opened his mouth to speak when his eyes shot wide.
"DEMON!"
Zack's shout was all the warning Sephiroth needed. He span on his right foot, Masamune materialising in his hand, and slashed at the creature that had leapt at his back.
The attacker was quick. Very quick, even. But he was quicker.
The Beast let out a roar in anger and pain and swiped at air as the silver haired arch angel's wings carried him into the air.
Quickly, Vincent raised his gun pulling the trigger. White lightning blasted from the barrel, hitting the beast in the face. Blinded, the beast staggered backwards. Cloud flashed past him and sank his blade deep into the lion-like demon's throat. And with a rustle of feathers Zack flew past him, landed behind the demon and stabbed the Buster blade into its back. Sephiroth smiled.
'Childs play'
The demon seemed to be choking on its own blood as Sephiroth landed next to Vincent. '...no not choking-'. Vincent raised his gun as Yuffie took in a battle stance next to him.
'-laughing'
The beast suddenly through its head back and howled. A black orb that was hanging low around its neck started to glow as all around them, Death Gigas began rising from the ground. 10- no 30 of them surrounded their position they all moved at once at attack.
Sephiroth slashed at the closest one, cleaving its leg off. He sensed another one come at him from behind as he span round cutting it neatly in half. He was vaguely aware of Cloud and Zack fighting the beast that had attached him and their two demonic communions fighting the Death Gigas as more rose from the ground.
Sephiroth cut through Death Gigas after Death Gigas but they kept coming. For every one he killed three more popped up from the ground. As he went to fly into the air to try to help Zack and Cloud, one of the beasts grabbed his leg. He expected a shot of pain as the demon tried to break it but the beast just pulled. Another one grabbed the arch-angel from behind trying to restrain him. 'Restrain... so, you want me alive do you?'Sephiroth's powerful wings pushed the demon off his back as he kicked his foot free and flew up into the air. He held his hand out and focused his magic.
"Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not going anywhere. Firaga." White balls of fire burst from Sephiroth's hand, shooting towards the demons. Each ball shot through the Death Gigas chest, disintegrating them instantly. They then all shoot past Vincent, Yuffie Cloud and Zack and hit the first demon, exploding on contact. The beast was thrown back into the side of the mountain. And fell to the ground, unmoving. Yuffie quickly ran over and grabbed the orb that was around its neck. She whispered something and the Death Gigas all crumbled.
Zack smiled up at Sephiroth, his hands on his hips. "That... was awesome."
Sephiroth cocked his head "You expected anything less?" a small shove from behind made Sephiroth turn.
"Well o' brilliant Sephiroth. If you're so good, why didn't you do that sooner?!" Yuffie cried waving her arms about. She suddenly crossed her arms and raised her head smiling "Not that a bunch of Death Gigas could every beat the Star off Wutai and her awesome sidekick Vincent-" Sephiroth's eyes immediately found Vincent who was holstering his gun.
"- I mean come on! My battle wound is still all achy-"
Vincent knew that that... thing was following them. More importantly, he knew and didn't say anything.
"-that and I had to use 5 grenades on those damn-"
Sephiroth would have liked to think that Vincent had a good reason for it but Sephiroth was suddenly very aware of Vincent's scaled arms, which Vincent wore all too proudly. He was a demon and an Arch-Fiend. Had he played them? Had he lead them into this trap?
"-ise fire hurt the so bad. Must suck for them being in h-"
'No.' Sephiroth thought 'Vincent had tried to say something to you before the creature attacked- no, WHEN the creature attacked'. A thought suddenly occurred to the arch-angel. 'Maybe, that was why it attacked then... before he could warn me...'
"-was awesome the way ZaAAAHHHH-"Yuffie was suddenly hoisted off the ground. Looks like the beast wasn't quite done yet. Everyone reached for their weapon when suddenly the beast started snarling. It seemed to be... talking. What it was saying though, Sephiroth didn't know.
"The Galian Beast says that if we don't want Yuffie to face Oblivion," Sephiroth turned towards Vincent's deep rich voice. The Arch-Fiend's face was unearthly calm. Yet somehow, for the first time the demon looked every bit the horror legends told them as.
Zack growled. "What does it want?"Again the Galian Beast 'was that what Vincent had called it?' made that choked laughing sound followed by more of that strange language. Whatever it said, seemed to only increase that coldness in the Arch-Fiend's eyes.
"It said... it said it wants me to incapacitate you three then shoot myself in the head-"
"NO! Vincent don't!" Yuffie's cry seemed to make Vincent's breathing shudder. His eyes flickered to Sephiroth who smiled.
"You know what he really wants here, don't you Vincent?" The Galian Beast laughed 'So, you understand us do you?' Vincent paused for a moment before nodding.
Sephiroth knew the only way out of this what going to take some impressive bluffing on their part. He only hoped that the others would play along. 'Well, here goes nothing...'
Sephiroth shook his head, chuckling. "How could I be so stupid...? I should have known better than to trust a Demon" Vincent actually let himself look confused. Zack and Cloud both looked towards him.
"Sephiroth-" he cut Zack off sharply.
"Don't you see, the bastard lead us into a trap!" Sephiroth hoped Zack and Cloud would see through this. He hoped that Vincent would understand.
"A... trap..." Cloud turned towards Vincent who met his gaze, "I... I..." what happened next, Sephiroth honestly wasn't expecting. Cloud punched Vincent. "I trusted you! We trusted you!" Damn. Sephiroth shore hoped that that was part of the act.
"Cloud! Vincent wouldn't do that!" Zack's voice cut in. A snort from Vincent caught all of their attention though.
"Well, that's gratitude." Vincent's voice was cold. Icy cold. His eyes fixed on Cloud as his check started to redden. "I should have left you in that pit for the Crawlers..."
"Vincent, he doesn't mean it-"
"Genesis was right... all you demons are the same. Lying, manipulative, beasts with nothing governing them but base instincts."
"Cloud-"
"Better to have freedom and choice than be a worthless Zealot," as Vincent and Cloud continued to argue Sephiroth chanced a glance at the Galian Beast. The demon seemed to be angry at Cloud and Vincent's arguing but he was never going to distracted enough to give an opening to attack.
"Admit it! You are in league with the monster that pulled us down here aren't you!"
Sephiroth chanced a look at Yuffie, who was struggling in the Beast grip but he couldn't catch her eye. The Arch-Angel was running out of time and he knew it. That had to be something he could do. Someway of damaging the creature enough to-
"-I was wrong... you, ALL of your kind deserve everything they get down here!" Cloud snarled. 'thats my cue...'
"You all deserve to suffer." Sephiroth added coldly. Zack stared at him with horror. Vincent just glared.
"You believe yourselves so high and mighty but you are no different than us. You are no different that the Malboro that nearly killed Yuffie-"
Wait, what why would he bring that up? wait...
"I got candy, flash bombs, feathers, grenades and this really cool Chocobo pushy"
Yuffie's words echoed in Sephiroth's mind. 'Flash bombs...a quick lightning spell and... yes...' Sephiroth had a plan it would take perfect timing but it could work. He would just need one last trick from Vincent and Cloud.
He just hoped they were ready.
Sephiroth turned to the Galian Beast and Yuffie.
"Were you in on this too Yuffie?!" the Galian Beast snarled but Yuffie spluttered. 'Not yet'
"There is nothing to be in on you pompous Dick!" Sephiroth made a mental note to talk to the Imp about that later. Cloud seemed to be on the ball today as he quickly jumped in.
"You were helping him, weren't you?" 'Not yet'
"No!" Cloud looked at the beast.
"You know what, kill her. The realms won't miss a monster like her!" Yuffie paled. And Zack eyes went wide.
The Galian beast roared. 'Not yet' Fury ebbed from it like a waterfall. 'Not yet' It snarled in its foreign tongue at Vincent who drew his gun on Cloud,
"Not while I live Cloud." The Beast practically purred.
"Vincent Stop!"
"I can fix that Arch-Fiend."
"Wait!"
"NOW!"
A blast of lightning fired from Sephiroth's fingertips and hit Yuffie's sack causing the grenades and the flash bombs to explode. Vincent, Zack and Cloud all moved in unison as the Galian beast howled in pain. Vincent grabbed Yuffie who was doubled over covering her eyes as Cloud and Zack both tackled the Galian beast pushing it over the edge of the cliff. Sephiroth then drove Masamune into the ground and with all his strength, split the cliff.
Each of the angels and the Arch-Fiend hovered in the air as the cliff face fell after the falling demon, and when the demon hit the ground, it crushed the Galian completely.
"...Sorry." Sephiroth looked at Cloud who was looking guilty at Vincent and Yuffie in his arms. Yuffie looked at Cloud for a moment before opening her mouth, no doubt about to make Cloud really sorry. Thankfully, Vincent cut her off.
"You didn't mean it. Just as I didn't" Cloud smiled.
Vincent
Finally, they made it into the mine, better sill; they no longer were being hunted by the hound.
Zack was walking ahead with Cloud. He and Sephiroth had both summoned a wisp each to light there way as they travelled through. Zack was currently trying to convince the Fledgling that he always knew what the plan was and didn't just follow the lead when Sephiroth gave the command. Vincent couldn't help but smile as Cloud nodded to humour Zack and Yuffie chanted how "full of it" he was.
"Good call back there." Vincent turned to look at the Silver haired Arch-angel.
"General?" Sephiroth Smiled.
"General is it now hn?" he chuckled "the Flash Bombs. It was a good call."
Vincent turned to look ahead. "You were the one that put it together. Without you, Yuffie would be... Thank you." Vincent couldn't see Sephiroth's expression but he could tell he was still watching him intently. He tried not to shift under the gaze.
The pair continued on in silence for a while.
"May I ask you something?" Vincent stole a glance at Sephiroth. He was closer now. Too close. Again, Vincent's ear burned with the memory of the bite.
"What do you want to ask?" Sephiroth laughed.
"What do I want to ask? Well in truth, I want to ask what has changed to make you start avoiding me." Vincent eyes looked ahead at that. "I would also ask to know more about you. How you ended up here." At that Vincent lowered his face behind his cape. "I would ask, what actions could cause you so much guilt that it haunts your every action-"
"Sephiroth-"
"But I don't think you would tell me." Vincent sighed. He wished he could make Sephiroth understand. But it is for precisely that reason that he couldn't answer any of those questions. The best thing he could do for Sephiroth is to get him and his charges home.
Sephiroth sighed. "The main question I need to ask is about before."
"Before?"
"Something was following us before. You know what that something is." Vincent stopped dead. Sephiroth walked out in front of him.
"A threat then." Vincent swallowed deeply. He couldn't lie now. The group needed to know.
"Vincent?"
"...It is a threat. But not to you."
tbc
Cliffie I know but this one was a bit long...Will start on the next chapter tomorrow but for now... sleep X)