::The Last Avatar::

Gamer Edition

0.5

The First State

It was then, as the club lowered that the world around her seemed to slow to a stop. Rue blinked in confusion, what what going on? Then, unbidden, her body moved with a fluid grace she never knew she possessed. The world moved again, but so much slower than she was used to, Rue watched the club fall. She moved out of the way with ease. Tera. Where was Tera? Breath. She's fine.

The monster was moving again, reaching for her with it's free hand. She felt amused, but it wasn't quite her amusement. Tera appeared out of nowhere and latched on to the monsters hand. She saw it roar, but it was muted in her ears somehow. Yet everything else felt sharper, her eyes saw things they wouldn't have normally seen, she even smelled more than she would have normally. And god did that thing smell to high heaven.

True, she could hear it all as well, but it was almost as if everything she were perceiving was completely second hand. Like she were watching someone else parade around in her skin. Maybe she was. I guess, when you put it like that.

Rue watched herself spin, with a grace and ease she was doubtful she could pull off herself, and then to her complete shock, all the water around her, the water in the puddles on the rocky ground beneath her feet, rose up to form one long stream of water. Her arms directed it, their movements flowing along with the water. Water flows.

The water flowed around her a few times before she pushed outward and up, the water followed her movement almost instantaneously; surging forward to encase the monster in a pillar of solid ice that had formed with a twitch of her hand. Water triiiibe.

Rue wobbled as she came back to herself, the world came back into focus all at once and suddenly she felt sick. The fear was back, gone was the inner calm from a moment ago. Gone was the confidence and gone was her ability to stand if her knees suddenly giving out were any indication. She couldn't catch her breath. What was that, that feeling of someone else moving her body? Had she really just taken out that monster?

Looking up, yes, that is exactly what she had done. The ice was solid, the monster wasn't moving, and she was fine. Rue very much wanted to throw up and, really, who ever actually wanted to throw up? Well she did. Now. She also wanted to wake up. In her own bed. In her own room. Where everything was normal and fictional characters weren't crouching down in front of her asking if she was okay. Oh. No wait. That bit was happening. Better pay attention now.

"-ight? Hey!" Rue blinked as Tseng's face appeared in front of her. She frowned at him a bit, trying to catch up to what was happening, they were all moving far to fast now.

"I'm okay," she mumbled sluggishly. Sleeping sounded wonderful right now. It was unfortunate that Sephiroth decided to grab her arm and pull her to her feet before she could pass out.

"If that's the case then we need to go, you can tell me where you got the Ice Materia later," he said as he dragged Rue away from the ice pillar.

They were almost to the tree line when a group of Wuitain warriors practically dropped out of the sky in front of them. Sephiroth still held Masamune in his left hand and held it before him, ready to strike if need be. Our Hero.

"Move aside, you've failed in your attempt, we'll withdraw peacefully as agreed despite the fact that we were attacked during what was supposed to be peace talks," Tseng attempted to reason with the men.

"You will leave in peace, when you leave the girl," it was Godo, not the warriors that spoke. Rue looked around, getting her first good look at the Leader of Wutai as he walked towards them since they'd arrive through bleary, tired eyes. He was younger than she thought he would be. Crap. Might be time to leave.

"No," was the only reply Sephiroth bothered with. His grip on Rue's arm did not lessen as he took determined a step forward towards the warriors and the forest. The warriors didn't seem to appreciate the threatening move, their stances tightened and weapons slid into position, ready to attack.

"Why do you want her?" Rue heard Tseng ask. There was no emotion in his voice, but he sounded a little tired to her. Everyone was so different to what she expected them to be. Or, the two people she'd met so far were at least.

"She's one of ours, must have gotten lost in the forest," Rue frowned at Godo's words. She didn't understand why he was suddenly so interested in her any more than Tseng did. It didn't make sense even in her jumbled up and rather woozy head.

"You're lying. You're not taking her, I told her I'd get her home," she didn't quite remember Sephiroth telling her he'd get her home. He'd said he'd take her back to the base, hadn't he?

Godo's humourless chuckle caught Rue's attention, he was looking at her like she was a trophy he'd stumbled across and couldn't wait to get his hands on. Or, how Yuffie looked when she found some awesome Materia. Either one. And I thought Amon's laugh was creepy.

"Oh, if that girl is who I think she is, then I seriously doubt you'll be able to 'get her home', boy," Rue was beginning to think Godo knew something she didn't. She also knew he was determined to win the war with ShinRa and she really did not want to be someone's pawn in a game of chess. Did you forget? Or is this denial you're going through?

"Sore about losing your new pet to a civilian, Kisaragi?" Sephiroth turned and placed himself between Rue and Godo. It seemed he thought the leader more of a threat to her, and that was likely his mistake. The moment Sephiroth focused on the Wutian leader the two warriors now positioned behind Rue released a smoke bomb.

The smoke made Rue's eyes water and throat burn as she coughed helplessly, she could no longer see Sephiroth, who was right in front of her, or Tseng. She could feel the SOLDIER's grip on her arm, but when he'd turned to face Godo it had loosened.

"We need to get out of here," Rue heard Tseng say. Sephiroth seemed to make a noise of agreement and she felt him move forward, attempting to tug her to him so they could leave, however something wrapped around Rue's waist and ripped her sharply from Sephiroth's grip.

She was still coughing when they dragged her from the smoke cloud, the Wutian soldiers had nabbed her in the confusion caused by the smoke it seemed. Rue had hoped it had been Tseng getting her out of the way, but it seemed her luck had once again, failed her. Godo looked down at her coolly, as though she were a bug for him to squash beneath his boot. Or sandal, in his case. He nodded to his men and one of them tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and walk away; Rue heard herself shout for help and call for Sephiroth.

The last thing she saw of that flash of silver before finally succumbing to her bodies apparent exhaustion was Sephiroth bursting from the cloud of black smoke and cutting down a few Wutain's with Masamune before her vision went dark.

Teal eyes snapped open as she felt herself be tossed carelessly onto a carpeted floor. Her body ached in places Rue wasn't even aware she could ache, not to mention the killer headache she was sporting. Looking around her Rue felt her stomach drop a bit in fear, it looked like an Asian-styled throne room and sitting on the Dais was Godo Kisaragi. The same cool look from before was on his face as he looked at her. He almost looked, disappointed? Though she wasn't sure why. Maybe because she beat his monster? I don't think that's the issue here.

"Who are you?" one of the Wusheng asked her. The question was a simple one, but the tone used was sharp and hard like a blade. Rue took a deep breath and carefully struggled to her feet while trying to keep her frayed nerves under tight control. She could break down later, now she had to deal with these people and their hostile questioning. Breath.

"My name is Rue, I am sixteen years old and I'm originally from Modeoheim, but I have no idea how I got to be in Wutai and don't remember where I was prior to waking up in the forest," Rue explained. Her voice wavered, showing her fear and exhaustion, and she cursed it. Showing weakness now wouldn't help her. Or, maybe it would? Gah, who cares.

"Hm, a half truth at best, I think," Rue wasn't sure which of the five before her answered. All she knew, was that the words were cold and unimpressed.

"Particularly if the girl's display on the battlefield is taken into account ," it was obviously a side comment and not directed at her. Still, Rue found herself frowning. Her display? Did they mean the ice pillar? But she didn't know how she did that. It just, well, happened. You need to stop ignoring the truth. You know what's going on. It's okay to stop hiding. It's time to face yourself.

"Are you lying to me girl?" that had been Godo. Rue shifted uncomfortably under his piercing stare. The man might as well have had x-ray vision the way he was staring at her.

"Maybe," she frowned at him. She didn't want to have to explain that she'd been born in a place they'd never heard of. She didn't want to explain about the weird ass screens that kept exploding in her face and scaring the crap out of her. She also didn't want to have to explain that she wasn't actually sure what was going on. She hated that. Not knowing. It drove her nuts at the best of times. You do know, you just don't want to acknowledge it.

"Shall we try again, then?" the Lord of Wutai prompted her. Rue's shoulders sagged as she sighed, this conversation was going to suck. She just fucking knew it.

"My name is Rue, I am twenty five years old, I was born in Tasmania and I have no idea how I came to be here," Rue stated as she stood a little straighter. She might be cracking inside, but she wouldn't let them see it. She still had some pride, tired as she was. Careful.

"Twenty five, you say? You certainly don't look it," one of Godo's bushy-ass eyebrows raised as he eyed her appraisingly.

"No shit, someone thought it would be funny to send me back to hormone city," Rue's eyes rolled as she folded her arms and cocked a hip. Inwardly, however, Rue was cringing at her incessant need to be a smart-ass in the worst moments possible. She had no doubts that her mouth would get her killed one of these days.

Godo then took a moment to do what she least expected, he laughed, admittedly the sound sent an unwelcome shiver down Rue's spine, but at least she'd managed to lighten the mood in the man's throne room somewhat. It took a moment or two for the man to calm down, but when he did his eyes turned back to Rue and she very nearly ran from the room screaming at the storm brewing in them. Oh yes. This was very much going to suck. Duck and cover!

"Well then, let me ask you one thing," Godo stood and took a step down the dais he'd been sitting on, "Avatar Rue," he took another step.

"Ava…tar…?" Rue's mind went blank. What was he talking about? She wasn't- Oh. It hit her then, the class she'd been given little choice in back at the 'loading screen'. The Avatar 'class'. Godo walked up to her, his face hard like stone as he looked down on her diminutive form.

"Where the hell have you been?" he demanded quietly. To Rue, though, he might as well have shouted. The accusation in his tone hit her like a physical blow, as did the sudden awareness of the only question that had really been bouncing around in the back of her head. WHY ME? Now she knew and she wished she didn't.

"I-I-" Rue shook her head, unable to formulate words, let alone think. She tried to step back, away from the furious lord as the dam deep within her broke and tears began to silently fall. Godo wouldn't allow it.

"You aren't going anywhere, Avatar," the way he spoke the word was ugly and sounded wrong. Like it were an insult instead of the revered title of ages past. Godo seized her arm and dragged her from the room, but he didn't speak another word to her. It was probably for the best, as all Rue was capable of focusing on was how he had said the word Avatar with such spite and venom. She couldn't understand how everything had ended up this way, what had she ever done to anyone? Or, maybe that was the point. She hadn't done anything. Might be best not to focus on that bit.

Rue was pulled from this train of thought when Godo opened a screen door and all but threw her in the room beyond. "You will remain here, Avatar, until I can figure out what to do with you," were the only words she was spared before the door slammed shut. She could hear him giving orders to have the room guarded day and night and that she was not to leave, nor was she allowed any visitors bar himself. Yes, Rue heard all this, but it did not make it past the raging torrent of her thoughts.

All she could focus on now, was that she was the Avatar.

AN:Okay, there weren't any screens at all in this one. I figure, whoever is in charge of them went to make coffee or something and forgot to press pause. Rue is likely going to get inundated with screens in the next chapter, because of this.
I didn't forget Tera, btw, she just likes making a scene-I mean an entrance, she likes making an entrance.

This chapter marks the end of the 'Prologue' arc as Rue has now been identified as the Avatar.

Now begins Arc One and the new Avatar's Water Bending training. Also Yuffie Shenanigans.
Oh and for the guest that commented on the possiblilty of my notes getting lost one way or another. I backup my stuff fairly regularly these days. I've lost too many stories and drawings to computer failure lol. It's one of the reasons 'The One Good Thing' hasn't been updated in a while(years). I moved and lost the physical notes I had for it. I have been working on the next chapter for that, it's just slow going at the moment.

Remember to review, guys! Writer powers get boosted by them!
Till next time~!

RLK