I am so sorry about not updating. My computer died. I killed it, abet accidentally. So basically, I lost everything and had to wait to get a new computer. Now I have a laptop, and hopefully I won't kill this one. But, when I killed my computer, I killed everything on it, nothing is retrievable. Like I said, I am sorry.
I watched as Zack talked Tifa into joining our group as a tour guide. She smiled sheepishly, and with a couple words from Aeris, she happily joined our group. Genesis looked at her expectantly. And she glanced at Aeris before nodding.
"Okay, I can't really tell you much about the mako spring or the materia cavern… its been so long since I've heard Cloud's stories… but I think I remember the gist of them. Although, the one I do remember mentions of the spring, but not its location." She shyly admitted.
"Stories?" I titled my head slightly to the side. Although I was not into stories as Genesis was, the thought of Cloud telling stories was an interesting one; he really didn't seem like the type to even think of stories.
"Yeah. Sometimes Cloud would tell stories to the kids… Each one is different, and he rarely repeats them, unless asked to." By this time, everyone in the group was listening, and we were just exiting town. "Sometimes, he doesn't even remember them… like if you ask him to tell you one, he won't know anything about it." That certainly was strange. I pondered over it for a few seconds before Zack's voice brought me back.
"What were they about?" Zack asked. His puppy-like nature was getting the best of him, making him curious. I inwardly chuckled.
"Did he tell one about wolves?" Aeris asked softly. I thought to the story Aeris had told us after her walk. Did she get it from Cloud? I had heard she met him, but I had been unsure due to the face that the red-cloaked man had said he would hurt Cloud. But then again, Cloud had said just earlier… my head hurt, and that did not happen often.
Tifa pondered the question for a few minutes before answering. "Wolves? Yeah, he did once. About how the planet was formed and wolves were the first or something like that. He had others too. Zack, this answers your question. He would tell stories of all the animals, of plants and trees. He told us of Minerva, a goddess of the planet or lifestream… one of them. He would tell stories of the Cetra, and about a calamity from the skies that all but killed them."
"Calamity? Minerva?" Genesis asked, his eyebrows furrowing. It made sense that he would question about that. 'Loveless' was about a goddess, I do believe.
"Yeah. The Calamity was this thing that liked to pretend to be people's mother. It, although it seems like a she, would corrupt and twist people, making them believe her to be mother and that she should be honored and rule the planet. Cloud said she lived in the reactor. Since then, none of the village children dare go near it, afraid that she'll mess them up. I can tell you that the parents were grateful. As for Minerva, she was a rare treat, and even then only a few words."
A calamity that lives in a reactor and makes people insane. A strange goddess that Cloud doesn't talk about much. The only conclusion: Cloud had one hell of an imagination.
"Go on… tell us more." Genesis and Zack prodded. Tifa sighed. The group was now on a mountain trail. Aeris smiled gently, and although she was listening, she was also observing the wildlife, or rather, what was left of the wildlife.
"To keep kids out of the mansion, he told a sad story, but I don't think he ever revealed the end… or much information. I don't even remember it that well." She seemed to think it over, holding a hand to her chin.
Aeris perked up, and quickly turned her full attention to the mountain girl. "Go on." Aeris nudged Tifa. Zack and Genesis' eyes were lit up, also waiting for Tifa to continue.
"Vincent, that was the main character's name. He was a Turk, I think, who was assigned to the mansion and he fell in love with his target, or something like that. From there, tragedy strikes and he was shot at point blank in the head. Now he lies sleeping in the mansion, waiting for people to come so he can eat them. That's basically the gist of it. Sorry I don't remember more."
"It's alright." I assure her softly. I quickly thought over this new information.
Vincent and Turk. Assigned to the mansion. I will have to get Zack to check Reno on that information. And if the man in red was Vincent, then he probably had been there long enough to see my real parents, thus explaining what he had told me at the mansion. But…. He didn't look older than twenty… and he certainly didn't look like he had been shot at point blank.
"Any more?" Zack asked as he cheerfully bounced on the creaky wooden bridge we were now on.
"Yeah. There was one that Cloud only told once, and then if we ever tried to get him to repeat it… he acted all funny and stuff. We loved it so much; we, the town's teens and children, memorized and repeated the words over and over. Although, I'm sure we missed some, as it was only after the story that we tried to memorize it. The main characters are a lot like General Genesis and General Zack." That piqued my interest. How was that possible when Cloud had never met them before?
"Speak." I commanded, she gave me a weird look, but obeyed. I momentarily reminded myself that she wasn't one of my troops.
"Okay, I'll try... It would probably be best if we took a break anyways." I nodded with her statement. After we were all sitting down around her in a semi-circle, she sighed. "Lets see if I can remember the words… Okay… It started with three friends. One was a Lupin, a person strongly connected to animals. Another was a Phoenix, a person strongly associated with magic. The last, and youngest, was the Goddess' son, a being of sorts.
"The Lupin was said to have hair the color of the starless night sky and as soft a wolf's undercoat. His skin-kissed skin seemed to glow in any and all lighting. His bright purple eyes were shared by the large Nibel Wolves that he called kin. Some said he was so connected to the creatures that he was part wolf, and especially with all the energy he had; making him seem like an over-excited puppy. He was tall, and muscular. Despite his playful nature, everyone knew that he was honorable, and that if anyone needed his help, he would gladly give assistance, but only for the right reasons."
I blinked and stared at Zack, who's mouth was hanging wide open. That description fit Zack like a glove. Personality, appearance… everything. How… bizarre.
"The Phoenix had soft silken hair, the color of roasted chestnuts. Which is a really pretty shade of red and brown. His skin was milky white, and as soft as cream. His eyes were like the morning, just after the sun rises and the sky turns palest blue; with the sun behind them, lighting them with a strange glow. He was adapt at magic, especially that of ice and fire. He was tall, although the Lupin was taller, and slender. Unlike the Lupin who used his strength, the Phoenix used his speed and agility.
"The Phoenix had a non-caring and cold personality. Or that's what it seemed like. The poetic man actually cared deeply for those who he loved. He especially loved the goddess for granting him the love of her son and the Lupin. He wrote her a six act poem, starting with a prologue and ended at the fifth act. He was passionate about everything he did."
Once again, everyone's jaws were dropped, except mine of course. That perfectly described Genesis, even telling parts of him that no one but we knew as his lovers, like his caring personality. This was a little weird.
"The three were best friends, and as one may guess, lovers. They spent countless hours together. The Phoenix speaking and writing poems for those dearest, along with entertaining them with tricks of fire and ice. The Lupin pointing out all the simple things in life that made everyone happy, such as star gazing. The being just happy to have the two great men that he did."
How strange, the being wasn't described. That was… odd. I was curious as to who the being was. Maybe it was suppose to be me? It couldn't have been Aeris… it said men.
"Then, one day, the Calamity wormed her way in to the sleepy village the three lived in, Nibelheim. In an attempt to protect his lovers, and the goddess' son, as he was the goddess' knight, the Phoenix attacked the Calamity. Although, his distraction worked, and the villagers and his lovers were able to escape, he fell to the corruption of the Calamity. She corroded his mind, taking it apart and reassembling it until she was happy."
That doesn't sound very nice… I could tell Genesis was thinking much the same thing by his facial expression. It was one of those 'that's-so-disturbing' ones mixed with 'I-have-an-appointment-with-Hojo' ones.
"The Calamity used him and forced him to attack his lovers. The Lupin fought valiantly, trying to break the Calamity's hold on his lover. Alas, the spell wasn't broken until the Lupin lied on the pure snow. His blood staining the pure white substance a dark cheery red that looked so wrong. Ignoring the danger that the Phoenix still possessed, the being ran out from the hiding spot the Lupin had told him to hide at. Unfortunately, he was unable to make it to the Lupin in time, and the man died."
Now Zack was the one looking 'ugh'. Genesis was shooting him apologetic looks, as if apologizing for his 'story self's behavior. Aeris was just in shock, her eyes wide open. She was clearly engrossed with the story. Strange how this story was affecting us all so strangely.
"It was seeing the death of one of his lovers, and the tears of the other falling that truly allowed the Phoenix's mind to regain control of his body long enough to kill himself. The being cried over him as well, for he understood it hadn't been the Phoenix's fault such horrible things had happened. As anger and rage bubbled inside of the being's heart, he grabbed the two blades of his lovers and used his power to combine them. Then with a hateful vengeance, he went after the calamity, the spirits of his lovers giving him the strength he needed." How lovely.
"He sealed her away in the Northern Crater, with WEAPONs, Gaia's defense, surrounding the area, keeping watch. All his reserves gone, the being stumbled to his lover's graves, only to see that in honor of them, the planet had created a mako spring. The being looked at the substance, mumbled a small apology to his mother, and dove into the blood of the planet. He wanted the pain to stop. The pain of loss, he wanted gone and done for. The planet, misunderstanding his pleas, took him in a warm embrace and then started to take him apart, cell-by-cell. Until nothing remained, not even feelings."
