(Intro taken out for lateness of posting)
Midgar/ Sector 5 Slums/ Elmyra's home area/ Many people
"Man this food is good Elmyra, Tifa… honestly good thing I funded this feast since this amount of food required the extra Gil because man you two are good cooks… honestly my compliments to the chef team." Emerald said while he looked at Elmyra and Tifa at a large table… many were here getting ready to head to the temple but thanks to many wanting breakfast more or less, or more like some so no one fights on an empty stomach, well nuff said thanks to Elmyra and Tifa working on cooking and what not, many were eating right now around a large picnic table and this was a serious hull of food.
"Hehe, thanks Emerald. Tifa was really helpful." Elmyra said.
"It was nothing, sometimes I like to cook." Tifa said.
"Well in case you ever get married, pretty sure the person you marry would be one lucky SOB." Emerald said while he grins at Tifa.
Tifa did blush a bit.
"R-Right." She said.
Emerald chuckles at this before he looks at many.
"OK… while we eat, may as well come up with some kind of game plan… mainly once we get to the temple, we should work in small teams so we can make sure we don't accidentally set off traps and stuff in the temple, knowing the Ancients as best as we do, pretty sure they would protect whatever is in there so we may find things that men with weak minds may not survive… I am so sorry Barret." Emerald said as Barret blinks and growls at Emerald.
"What's that suppose to mean!?" Barret said in an angered way as Emerald points at him.
"That's what I mean… the anger… if we have to deal with puzzles and stuff, think you would be calm enough to work to bypass them and not try and barrage them with bullets?" Emerald said while he looks seriously at Barret.
Barret crossed his arms as he grumbled a bit as he didn't want to admit that Emerald could be right.
Emerald nodded when he saw that.
"Don't worry though, for those not going into the temple, I have a serious job for those not entering… guard detail… and I'm not talking about a low level type either… Tseng has the Keystone… Sephiroth could have it or not and if not… we will need to have lookouts and strong fighters who can keep Sephiroth busy while the Temple team deals with the traps and what not inside of the Dungeon… Shunpei, Aerith, that means you two will be coming along with me while I have someone on the guard team hold a summon put materia, I can use it to get us out just in case of emergencies, mainly because Shunpei is smarter than smart than most people here and Aerith is an Ancient, while she may not solve puzzles, given the mystical stuff I've heard about and what not, well lets just say from personal experience, you don't ignore that stuff… could be the difference in us walking out with whatever is in the temple scott free VS a total collapse of the temple while where in the lowest level or something." Emerald said when he brought up reasons why he, Shunpei, and Aerith were going on the attack team while it seems Barret would lead the defense to keep unwanted people out.
Elmyra was concerned.
"I do hope you all come back safely."
"Hehe, don't worry, I'll make sure everyone comes back home safely… well Aerith definitely since this is her home though heard you may move out of Sector 5 for someplace safer until things die down… where will you and Marlene be going any way?" Emerald asked while Elmrya sighs.
"Kalm, it's near Midgar so it's not like we would be far, I just want to make sure no one gives Marlene and I issues… honestly it would be a shame since the Flowers may go unattended but given its Marlene VS flowers that can be regrown… I'm picking Marlene's safety first and foremost… Sorry Aerith but while I'm willing to bring some Flowers and seeds… can't bring them all." Elmyra said when she looked at Aerith apologetically.
Aerith shook her head.
"It's okay mom. Yours and Marlene's safety are more important."
"Thank you… Marlene, after everyone leaves, get ready to pack… think of it as a vacation and while your Father works to save the world, you get to have fun seeing new people." Elmyra said while she smiles at Marlene kindly.
"Yay!" Marlene cheered.
Some people chuckle at Marlene's excited look on her face while Emerald looks thoughtful as he went back to eating… honestly he was a bit on edge since he thought Bordux and Aggro would show up now or something… but no… honestly this lack of attack from both Bordux and Aggro with Sephiroth was just getting Emerald more unnerved and Zack could sense that when he was the only other Aura sensor of the group.
'Damn… even I can tell something is up. Bordux and Aggro have been quiet which is not a good sign.' Zack thought.
Still the rest of the meal went well and in no time, Emerald cracks his neck before he looks at the others.
"OK… I'll be heading to the temple of the ancients alone, mainly so I can get to the area, teleport back, and then teleport us there… can't use Onimusha to fly all of us so while I fly, you guys make sure things are 100% ready on your end." Emerald said when he summoned Onimusha to his hand.
"Be careful, Emerald." Elmyra said.
"Hehe, I will Elmyra, see you later unless you move to Kalm while we are gone, I shouldn't take too long." Emerald said before he dropped Onimusha and it floated in the air… though before Emerald got on, he did grin as he kissed Elmyra on the cheek.
"Just because we had a one time thing doesn't mean I can't do more… food for thought for you while I fly." Emerald said with a grin as he got on Onimusha and flew up in the air with quick speed.
This made Elmyra blush as Aphrodite giggled before nudging Aerith.
"Make way for new… papa."
Aerith blinks from this as the scene went to Emerald as he was standing on Onimusha as he gave Rufus a quick call with his phone and waited for Rufus to pick up.
After a bit, the call was answered.
"Yes Emerald?" Rufus said.
"Yeah I'm heading to the Temple of the ancients location solo for now, depending on things may go Solo there or bring the others at Elmyra's with me, mainly heading there on Onimusha so I can fly there fast… point is, depending on things, I may go solo in this temple if Tseng needs serious help and he can't leave anytime soon, I'll try and see what is going on there before I make the choice… so try and keep the barrier materia I made near you just in case… haven't done a lot of bodyguard work so just trying to make sure that nothing bad happens to you so try and not lose it and stuff." Emerald said while he sits cross legged on Onimusha while he flies over the sea.
"Alright. Just watch your back." Rufus said.
"Oh I will… I'm hanging up now so see you later." Emerald said before he hung up and looked at Onimusha and sighs.
"How bad do you think everyone will be pissed if I go solo?... would risking many's wrath be worth the danger?" Emerald said while he crossed his arms.
"That is your choice to make Emerald. Many would be mad but will understand your reasoning." The blade said.
"Maybe… at least Nocturn's gift to know how to talk with women helps in making sure I won't be in the doghouse for long… let's play it by ear and stuff… though… just in case better get ready to fly in case I need to go into hiding." Emerald thought while he sweatdrops at the images of many angry women coming after him and Aphrodite with his powers to some extent coming after him does scare him a bit.
"Right…" Onimusha said.
Emerald and Onimusha continue to fly through the air, thanks to a GPS in Emerald's phone courtesy of Rufus… Emerald tracked down where the temple of the ancients was… as he lands and has Onimusha on his back for now… he walked to a wooden rope bridge and well… even though Emerald was not an ancient or Cetra or whatever… the moment he got on the bridge… well Onimusha was surprised when Emerald gripped his head and images flash in Emerald's mind like many voices were entering his head all at once… if Aerith was here she would be able to be calm about this but Emerald not knowing what was going on gripped the rope railing to steady himself.
"F-Fuck!... w-what is going on!" Emerald groaned when he couldn't make heads or tails of the images and voices in his head.
"Emerald… back away from the bridge!" Onimusha said.
Emerald did so when he quickly did and the voices and imagery, while not stopping, was much less intense as it should be and Emerald fell to a knee and pants while he gripped his head as he tried to figure out what was going on.
"O-OK… that's… better… I'm guessing that we will need Aerith to get in at least… I'm guessing because of me having a Fragment of the Master Emerald in my chest, may as well be a beacon for whatever the hell just happened… felt like I was flooded with emotions and images…" Emerald said as he shook his head and he got to his feet while he slowly recovered.
"What images did you see?" The blade said.
"I-I… don't quite know… a large meteor falling… Aerith of all people in some place that I don't recognize… her praying as a shadow starts falling to her… rest is hard to make out… honestly I'm not sure what this means… feels like something prophetic at least because of the feeling I got when the Master Emerald did that for me in my dreams… never when I was awake though… got any idea what this means?... feels like a warning to me at least…" Emerald said while he looks to Onimusha for possible theories at least.
"Hard to say… but maybe these images are showing you… what may happen to Aerith." Onimusha said.
Emerald was thoughtful before he looked at the bridge.
"I see… Onimusha… I'll be reforming you into a gauntlet, if I start to get pained to the point I can't move… pull me back… I may need more info and if this is just me, it's fine… but what if Tseng was given these images or something else and out of it inside if he forced himself through…" Emerald said while he had Onimusha reform into a gauntlet on Emerald's right arm.
"It's possible…He must've endured great pain if he got further." Onimusha said.
"Either that or maybe because he is human, didn't even get images and stuff… for now… let's see if I can get by now that I am no longer off guard." Emerald said as he slowly approached the bridge while he had Onimusha ready just in case.
Onimusha was ready to get Emerald out in case the images return.
As Emerald got close to the bridge… he took a step and grits his teeth when more images formed in his head… this time not as intense but as he walked… he saw images of Aerith as child… an older woman who looked a LOT like Aerith… Hojo much to Emerald's shock… and his horror when he saw that the woman died before Aerith went to Elmyra… and the woman's body was taken by Shinra and Emerald nearly went into a Dark mode when he saw Hojo dissecting the woman's body apart… the images seemed to continue with Hojo trying to have Aerith breed with Red… her getting freed, the group going after Sephiroth after the time at Shinra HQ… and as Emerald walked things went from the place with Aerith preying to actually getting stabbed and Emerald more or less seeing a sad Cloud with others nearby like Barret, Red, Tifa, Yuffie, Vincent, and Cait Sith watching as Aerith was given a watery grave… Emerald than saw more images of a possible future as he got over the bridge with Emerald seeing the Meteor and Sephiroth being the one to cast it and a word being forced in Emerald's head as he got his feet off the bridge.
"Don't let him take the Black Materia!" A collective voice said making Emerald growl and grit his teeth as the voices and images fade and Emerald leaned against a wall as Onimusha, if he had eyes, would be looking at Emerald while Emerald had a thoughtful look on his face though Emerald wiping sweat with his unarmored hand and Emerald starts walking up the stairs.
"Onimusha… remind me later to castrate Hojo the moment I see that fucker… and if this Black Materia is in this place the reason for that meteor thing and all these images and what not don't want that to happen… lets make sure if that is a possible future… it never happens." Emerald said with a look of raw determination on his face… Emerald however was unaware of a floating cloak looking figure floating in the distance watching Emerald walk up the temple steps but flew away as the camera focused on Emerald and Onimsha for now.
"Agreed." Onimusha said as he knew Emerald was pissed.
Though as Emerald approached the entrance… a black hooded figure exited before they fell before Emerald.
"H-Hey!" Emerald said when he rushed to the figure… wasn't Tseng at all but damn this was unnerving.
"B-Black… Materia…" the figure said, surprising Emerald a bit but the figure stopped moving and well… and Emerald saw the figure's neck some number… 9… for some reason… though before he could say much the figure actually vanished in green particles like energy… he heard about this sometimes… returning to the lifestream… first time seeing it though…
"Let's get going." Emerald said as he entered the temple… however he saw Tseng against some kind of alter and held his stomach from some kind of wound.
"Tseng!" Emerald said when he saw the injured Turk leader and Emerald rushed to him as he started using a healing art he knew making Tseng glow and the guy started to come to.
"Ugh… what happened?" Tseng said as he groaned a bit.
"That's what I want to know… is Sephiroth inside?..." Emerald asked, reminding Tseng of why he was here and more since the Turk leader had the
"S-Sephiroth?… I haven't seen anyone here." Tseng said.
"I see… either you got knocked out or something and don't remember or maybe you pulled the keystone from the altar here locking Sephiroth inside… either way is bad since I'm not sure what happened… you still have the keystone on you?" Emerald asked while Tseng used a hand to rummage around and held up an odd looking rock to Emerald weakly… even if his wounds were healed, would still need to recover and more for full energy as well… so as Emerald got the Keystone, he helped move Tseng out of the way for a moment and got his phone out and called Rufus again and waits for him to pick up.
Thankfully the phone was picked up.
"Emerald? All okay? Have you found Tseng?" Rufus said.
"Yeah I found Tseng, guys alive but I think Sephiroth got inside or something, Tseng is in a daze and had to heal him from a wound on his stomach, I may have to head inside solo, can you send someone like Cissnei to Elmyra's and let them know what happened and that I may not be able to come back and get them, they may have to come to me… try and have Cissnei let… Zack or Jack since he is in disguise know to keep a close eye on Aerith… trust me… this place fucked with my head and I think its telling me Aerith is in serious danger…" Emerald said while he looked serious.
Rufus blinks when he hears that.
"I would ask but… you would probably say no time so I will call Cissnei."
"Good… sorry about this but given we may have issues if Sephiroth gets whatever is here called a… Black Materia from what I gathered… would be a VERY bad thing… to happen… if I can't stop Sephiroth, can slow him down at least." Emerald said as he got ready to hang up.
Rufus was surprised.
"B-Black Materia?"
"Yeah not sure what that's about but the less of it in Sephiroth's hands the better… for now I need to hang up… if you can give Zack a GPS to Tseng's location, you'll find him easily… just tell everyone to watch out for the bridge before the temple and stuff… mainly Aerith… not sure what effect it will have on her or others but I got so many flashes of images in my head it wasn't even funny…" Emerald said while he waits to see what Rufus would say if he had anything to say.
"Right… I'll make some calls." Rufus said.
"Alright… see you later Rufus… oh and if you could have some medical team go with Zack and the others, make sure they treat Tseng away from this place… honestly I have a bad feeling about this so better safe than sorry." Emerald said before he hung up on Rufus and Emerald looked at Tseng.
"Try and relax… I'll be heading inside as a scouting party of sorts, so if Zack with Cloud and the others arrive, tell them I went on ahead… oh and Zack is wearing that Jack Gemini disguise so try and call him that if you see him looking like a Shinra soldier grunt." Emerald said as he got ready to use the keystone on the altar where Tseng used to rest against.
"R-Right. Just watch out for… whatever's here." Tseng said.
Emerald nods and as he got up, he moved to slot the keystone into the altar… he saw many glowing purple orbs light up on top of the altar before the keystone glows… this results in Emerald sinking into the floor much to his surprise and well… as this happened the scene went to a bit later in Midgar…
Midgar/ Sector 5 slums/ Elmyra's home/ Many people
"Wait you're telling me Emerald went to the temple and inside of it ALONE and that your boss didn't tell you to come to us till nearly an hour later!?" Yuffie said with a shocked look as Cissnei, being the messenger, had crossed arms.
"The President had to make some calls and set some things up like a medical team and a proper boat to even get there so even if I told you now, many wouldn't have been able to go to the temple of the Ancients either way so I came here to let you know that things have been set up properly." Cissnei said when she looks at many while some look concerned because Emerald at this time would be in the temple alone.
"But Emerald's by himself. Who knows what can be in there." Shunpei said.
"Maybe traps set by the ancients, horrible monsters and abominations that could have been set there to keep intruders out, honestly we don't know what could be there since the Ancients knew things that us modern day people don't." Cissnei said while this worried some… Emerald was tough but when they heard Emerald was affected by something the temple did with mental images and noises and stuff on getting to the temple so that was worrisome for a number of reasons though Cissnei didn't elaborate on the images and stuff.
"We should still go there and help him." Aerith said.
"Maybe… we have a boat set up so we can go there, just know that it's been an hour so we don't know how far Emerald got inside of the temple." Cissnei said while Zack or Jack blinks at the word we… like Cissnei is going as well…
"You're coming with us?" Zack/Jack said.
"Well of course, need to make sure Tseng is alright and need to make sure that I can report what I see in the temple to the president since I doubt many would be willing to remember much, need to make sure that we don't mess things up as well, if Sphiroth is inside the temple, you'll need all the help you guys can get." Cissnei said when she had crossed arms and a serious look on her face showing she was adamant in going.
Zack sweat drops.
"Right." He said since he knew Cissnei was serious.
"Yeah… still we should get going, the longer we wait here, the longer it will be before we get to the temple." Cissnei said when she gestured for many to start following her.
The group nods their heads as they grab their gear and supplies so they can help Emerald.
Before they left, Elmyra passed each person a large basket of food, not much per say, but enough to be one good refresher for eating.
"Here… not sure when you'll be able to eat again but hopefully this should help you if you have issues… try and be careful everyone…" Elmyra said when she gave many a concerned look… mainly Aerith for obvious reasons…
Aerith saw the look.
"Don't worry mom. We'll be okay." She said.
Elmyra on their end looks at Aerith.
"I… hope so… honestly I never expected all of this to happen… I just hope you all come back safely… if Marlene and I are not here, we will be at Kalm." Elmyra said when it sounds like she would start the move soon with Marlene at her side.
Aerith nodded her head before she went to hug Elmyra to reassure her.
Elmyra returned the hug before Aerith and many were on a large boat in no time while shockingly enough Rufus was at the head of the boat and by the time many knew he was there… well… many were surprised, even Cissnei, mainly since she didn't hear about this.
"S-Sir… I wasn't aware you were coming." Cissnei said.
"Well considering this is a key thing to worry about, I figured I should go and make sure any operations are handled in person… besides, need to ask Tseng some things with the medical team so I won't be heading inside the temple yet… mainly I'm just making sure that if we get there… things don't go FUBAR since Sephiroth will be there…" Rufus said while he had a serious look on his face while Grey states rests near him.
"I-I see…" Cissnei said as Cloud got serious when Sephiroth was mentioned.
"Indeed… anyway considering what Emerald told me before he last ended the call… mainly what you all maybe looking for is something called a Black materia… what it does I do not know but whatever Emerald experienced freaked him out enough that it unnerved him… given his skills the fact he is unnerved is… well unnerving since whatever that Black Materia is… may as well be what Sephiroth is after… if we can keep it from him, should be good…" Rufus said while he had a serious look since images like that forced in someone's head would be a bad message for many and given what Zack knew about images in Emerald's head… probably not the best signs and could be a bad prophetic type thing the ancients gave Emerald somehow…
"Black Materia?" Yuffie said when she heard that.
"Yeah… given a psycho killer with a body sized long sword would be happy to go kill crazy in Shinra HQ when we tried to infiltrate things and the guy single handedly killed the former president… probably not the best time for you to get Materia crazed Yuffie." Tifa said when she rubs her head.
Yuffie jolts.
"I-I was just curious." She said.
"Riiiiighhhht… anyway do we know anything about this Black Materia or whatever it is?" Red said as Rufus shakes his head.
"No… however given Sephiroth would most likely try and get it given things, probably for the best we work to keep it from him… we would have to ask Emerald more on those images because if this Black materia is linked… could be the effect it may cause and given how unnerved Emerald sounded… probably not a Materia ANYONE should wield." Rufus said with a serious look on his face.
"Well can we call Emerald?" Aphrodite said.
"I already tried… seems that when you go into the temple, no signal can get out, so once you're inside, things will be dark for us on the outside." Rufus said when he showed many that Emerald didn't get any of Rufus's calls, in fact he gave Emerald a call and just got one of those numbers you have dialed that are not available things, the please hang up and try again messages one would get.
"Damn… guess we better get going pronto." Zack/Jack said as he got serious.
Many nod and as the ship continues sailing, Cissnei was speaking with Rufus while Zack was nearby out of sight… he was using Zetsu for now to keep some practice in so many didn't even know he was there.
"Sir… I have to ask… aside some… issues going on… are we going to work with Cloud and his group until Sephiroth is taken care of?" Cissnei said which… felt foreboding to Zack with this line of question and as he listened in.
"For now Cissnei… for now… once Sephiroth has been dealt with we will deal with Cloud's group properly… don't forget that issues aside, Avalanche are terrorists… blowing up reactors and what not… lets not forget the fact that while they say they do things for the good of the planet, they kill people anyway from guards to workers who keep the reactors in working order… make no mistake Cissnei… we may have a common enemy but once that enemy is gone it's back to the usual grind with us trying to take them down… don't forget that, my father may have caused issues, but Avalanche have done their own share of crimes and all for the *Greater good*... I'll admit I'm no saint… believe me I buried people who crossed me before personally… but can you look me in the eye and tell me blowing up reactors common people need to survive in Midgar, and more or less leaving people in the dark for weeks and uprooting their lives was any better?" Rufus said while he looked at Cissnei with a raised eyebrow.
"Well… I would say no." Cissnei said.
"Indeed… even if they are right, can you tell me people will just accept throwing away the power of Mako, something used for years, and all because terrorists say its harmful to the planet?... make no mistake, even if they are right, think we could change course and find a new energy source in the meantime?... trillions of gil went into the City of Midgar and normal people, like it or not, want the life of luxury and what not… and we have been using Mako for generations… people won't change easily Cissnei so even if these terrorists are right, unless they look at the bigger picture and actually find a solution for many in the city, pretty sure people would riot if we just turn off reactors… that would be worse than any bombing since people who get stared do insane things…" Rufus said while he held his hands behind his back.
Cissnei sighs.
"That is true." She said as Zack was not liking the conversation.
"Indeed… for now we will make sure that Sephiroth, a well known killer to many at this point now, will be taken care of… once he is gone, we focus on Cloud and his group… we can keep the Ancient Aerith alive and what not, but the rest… not so much… for now just keep an eye on them and if I give a signal to try and kill them… follow it… remember Cissnei, Zack maybe with them but I highly doubt he would aid well known Terrorists given what he knows about them as much as I… after all, in the past… he's a wanted to be a Hero… if he still wants that I highly doubt he would willingly aid Cloud and his group as long as Aerith is safe and sound…" Rufus said with a serious tone to his voice as he gestured for Cissnei to leave him now.
Cissnei nods her head before leaving as Zack was shocked.
'That bastard!' He thought.
Zack than left for now since Rufus had a point… Sephiroth was a deadly threat… but looks like he would have to make sure Rufus wouldn't cause issues later… and… he would have to try and convince Cissnei to potentially turn on Shinra… that… would be one hell of a wall though and Zack would only have one shot for doing this… Cissnei was a Turk after all… he knew how she was with training to get into it… honestly he would have his work cut out for him later… for now though one step at a time but he did have a determined look on his face while he had a thought on hearing this.
'Have to find a way to warn Emerald of Rufus's plan.' Zack thought.
Either way, it seems Zack would have to get in the temple of the ancients and locate Emerald first… this results in him going around to wait for the boat to dock on land and when he did… he moved to bring Aerith to a side and while many were getting ready and stuff…
"...And that's what I heard when I overheard Rufus and Cissnei talking… we should get ready for anything just in case." Zack said while he looked at Aerith seriously… he was still wearing the Shinra helmet so she couldn't see his eyes but she could hear the worry in Zack's tone of voice.
Aerith was surprised.
"I can't believe it. Then again this is the president we're talking about."
"Yeah… for now try and keep an eye out OK?" Zack said while he wanted to make sure the Emerald retrieval mission didn't go FUBAR before it started.
Aerith nods her head.
"Though what about Cissnei? Think she'll betray us for real?"
"Honestly I'm not sure… given how long she worked for Shinra, she may not have issues in taking out guys like Barret or even Cloud… heard Barret did blow up reactors in the past and stuff, and Cloud is shockingly strong given the past he had and helped with one of those missions… not something one can shrug off normally a simple doing it for the good of the planet when you lose power or something for weeks onend." Zack said since Barret would be a wanted man for many since he was a well known member of Avalanche… guy even led bombing missions after all…
Aerith was quiet.
"You have a point." She said.
"Yeah… lets just play it by ear for now… once we find Emerald and figure out things more… lets try and not let our guard down." Zack said while he really didn't like having to deal with a potential enemy moment in the future once Sephiroth was taken care of.
"Right… gotta find Emerald and defeat Sephiroth… if we see him." Aerith said.
"Well hopefully we won't see Sephiroth there, Emerald hopefully… for now we should finish getting ready… try and let the others know but… try and wait till we have a good time to let Barret know… guys… a bit trigger happy…" Zack said comically enough as Shunpei was tuning Barret's gun arm… kind of fired into the air making him quickly stop that while Barret laughed when the gunfire was stronger than ever and stuff making Aerith and Zack sweatdrop at the sight.
"A bit?" Aerith said.
"More like alot…" Zack said while he rubs his head as he walks away to get ready officially.
Aerith did the same but has this thought.
'Hope Emerald is okay.'
Though instead of doing a scene change to Emerald… the scene shifts to the Temple of the ancient entrance with many people approaching it.
"Hmmm… so this is the temple of the Ancients… will say… lots of nature here." Rufus said while he looked at lots of trees while he saw the robe bridge and the massive temple with the entryway at the top.
"No kidding." Barret said.
"Indeed… so this is the infamous bridge that nearly TKOed Emerald given what I heard… has anyone heard anything or seen images in their heads yet?" Rufus said while many look around and shook their heads no… though Aerith seemed different when she walked to the bridge… and she moved to get on it much to the surprise of many but Rufus held a hand up and gave a shush gesture since unlike many here, Aerith was a Cetra… an Ancient hybrid so what she may see and hear is different than what others or even Emerald may have heard.
"This is… the temple of the ancients… I… can feel the knowledge of the ancients floating here… You… could become one with the planet but… you're… stopping it with the strength of will… for the future?... for us?" Aerith said while Zack walked forward to try and say something as Aerith got up.
"You're… uneasy but happy?... because… I'm here?... I'm sorry I don't understand…" Aerith said before she turned around and looked at everyone.
"I… want to go inside." Aerith said while many were caught off guard by the adamant look that she had.
"Well guess this will be going like how Emerald said with an attack team and an away team… can't have everyone enter so we should pick who goes inside carefully… for all we know we could try calling Emerald but given the lack of contact, could be that his phone was destroyed, he maybe safe but can't contact us even if he wanted to…" Red said while he walked to Aerith.
"I'll be joining her." Red said as Cait Sith surprisingly moved forward.
"Well I'll be tagging along boyo, can't say much in not having a helping hand come along." Cait sith said while Cloud walked forward.
"Same… no way am I leaving Sephiroth a chance to get away again." Cloud said while showing that so far… 4 were willing to go, Cloud, Aerith, Red, and Cait Sith.
"I'm going too." Zack said.
"Alright… can add one more, can't have too many go in at once for a number of reasons." Rufus said since the temple of the ancients was a full on mystery, so sending too many people in at once would be a death sentance for too large of a group.
"I'll go… mainly to see how things are and what not, also in case Tseng is inside, someone has to bring him out for healing." Cissnei said while she stepped forward.
"Alright. Everyone else stays." Rufus said.
"For now at least… could have Yuffie join in case Cissnei doesn't stick around long if Tseng is just in the entryway or something, pretty sure she would be one of the most worried women for Emerald and stuff, that is if Cissnei does leave with Tseng." Zack said while he gestured for the attack team to follow him as he carefully walked on the bridge and got… nothing… he then starts walking while Yuffie follows since if Cissnei left, could join up, if not, could bring Tseng out at least so Cissnei could stick around.
Rufus then looks at the others.
"OK… set up a base camp, may as well make sure any one else entering after some time passes won't have to be uncomfortable… besides, I need to make a medical tent in case Tseng needs surgery." Rufus said while he looks at the medical team mainly so they could set things up.
The group nodded and got to work on making a base camp as the medical team set up a tent.
As this happened… the attack team, consisting of Zack disguised as Jack, Aerith, Cloud, Red, Cait Sith, Cissnei or Yuffie depending on who sticks around and stuff.
When they got inside of the entryway, they saw Tseng unmoving nearby against a pillar while the keystone was inserted into the altar.
"Boss!" Cissnei said when she moved to him as Zack saw a life sign from Cissnei, it seems Emerald did some first aid but not much else… given Tseng was injured, chances are Emerald healed Tseng, but went inside just in case Sephiroth was going to be an issue and to Cissnei's relief, she felt a pulse from Tseng with Zack not having to talk.
"Oh he is alive… thank goodness…" Cissnei said while Red looked at her.
"You or Yuffie will have to carry Tseng to the others for help than while the rest of us head inside." Red said before he sniffs around.
"Hmmm… Emerald was here but… his scent stops around the middle of the floor…" Red said when he saw where the Altar was and where the Keystone was at… if Emerald put it in and his scent ended there, would have either teleported or gone through the floor or something since there didn't seem to be any other entryways.
"Huh?… but how? Shouldn't there be more?" Cait sith said.
"Unless there's a secret passage." Zack said.
"Won't find out just standing here…" Cloud said before he looked at Cissnei and Yuffie.
"You two decide who goes back, I'll be heading in." Cloud said since no point in standing around… as he moved to do so… when he got where Emerald was… the Keystone glowed again and well… to many peoples shock… Cloud just… sank into the floor with it rippling around him till he was gone… would explain the lack of passages… the passage was through the floor itself somehow… honestly… Cetra had serious skills in the past for making this.
Yuffie looks at Cissnei.
"How do we decide this?"
"I'll just bring the boss to the others, pretty sure you would sneak in given your boyfriend is in possible trouble, better make sure someone gets Tseng to the others reliably." Cissnei said when she gave Yuffie the go ahead to do things.
Yuffie nods her head since she wants to help Emerald.
As Cissnei worked to help get Tseng out of the temple… Aerith looks at the others.
"Let's get going." Aerith said and as many nods their heads… they all went one by one to enter the temple and saw Cloud nearby when they appeared… though… to put things bluntly… they looked like they were in a maze of sorts… the best way to describe this thing is mainly one of those stairway paintings you would see at an art museum… and if the maze was on some kind of hard mode or something… honestly one wrong move and you may as well end up back at the start before you know it.
"Oh that is not good." Cait Sith said.
Aerith looks at Red.
"Red, do you know which way Emerald could've gone?"
"Uhhh… can trace his scent somewhat but… which way?" Red said when he saw so many twists and turns that he was momentarily dizzy by the architecture of the place.
"Crap… guess the only way is to go forward." Zack said before he chose one path up.
"No kidding…" Cloud said while he rubs his head as he walked further in while he was careful of anything that could pop up… after a bit of walking, and vine climbing and going down and stuff… and an occasional backtrack or two… well nuff said as the group continued onward… the group noticed someone… it wasn't Emerald but… some kind of clothed figure with a wide brim hat… the figure was stout and had a long white beard and when they noticed they ran off for some reason… Zack could tell the guy wasn't human… but… not hostile either based on their aura.
"What was that about?" Zack said.
"No clue but after him!... he could know where Emerald is!" Yuffie said when she ran to give chase.
Everyone else went after Yuffie so nothing bad happened to her but also to catch up to the mystery figure.
When they did after some climbing up vines and stuff… they found the short being in the back of a ruined looking room… when they approached him… well… the guy held a hand out.
"Nyum… Nyum…" The old looking figure said as Aerith approached with a gentle smile.
"Phew… we finally caught up with you… I'm sorry… you waited for me…" Aerith said when she looked at the others.
"This is a spirit body of the Ancients… they have been away from the planet this whole time to protect the temple." Aerith said while she gave a solemn look.
"Over time they lost the ability to speak normally… though for these bodies… they never needed to talk and only do one thing…" Aerith said before she moved to knell next to the spirit body.
"Please… talk to me… I can't understand you… is it because you're afraid… is it Sephiroth or something else?" Aerith asked though the Spirit didn't say anything as Yuffie rubs her head.
"Ugh… can you gesture if you saw a guy in a trench coat and have a gem in his chest?... the guy's name is Emerald and he came here to stop Sephiroth… were not after treasure or here to plunder the place and I'm really worried for him." Yuffie said though this got the spirit body to tilt its head and moved to draw an image in the ground… the icon on Emerald's chest to be exact and looks at Yuffie to see if this is what she meant by the gem in chest.
"That's him!… do you know where he is?" Yuffie said.
"Nyum Nyum…" The spirit said while shaking its head… it starts to draw in the ground crude if eligible images of Emerald helping the Spirit out when it couldn't get by a pathway… Emerald looked like he was holding his head like this place was affecting him in a bad way and looks like he continued on from here though if the determined look on the crude drawing was any indicator.
"Damn… judging from the drawing, something is hurting Emerald's head but is still going." Zack said.
"Yeah… this place doesn't seem to meld well… either that or maybe it's because Emerald is not human and what not… I think he mentioned something about sensing emotions or something once… not sure what that's about though." Red said and this clicked something in Zack on what was going on with Emerald… he was more or less a Chaos Emerald personified… if this place was in a panic if Sephiroth was here, Emerald would get that feeling full force and more… he couldn't say much since it may not make much sense but Zack was still in disguise as well so… yeah Cloud nearby means he can't say much.
"Either way we gotta find him!" Yuffie said.
The group nodded and after they thanked the Spirit body for the help, even getting to buy some items and heal up with its help, the group left to dive further into the temple.
The group climbs some more stairs followed by some vines.
As they continued more… as they approached a pathway leading to an intricate set of stairs… Aerith walked next to Yuffie and she saw Yuffie looking really nervous right now… most likely nervous for Emerald.
"Don't worry Yuffie. We'll find Emerald." Aerith said.
"I-I know… honestly Emerald is pretty much impossible to kill but… I can't help but worry for his safety… this place seems to be reacting badly to him and while he could physically be OK… mentally… I'm not sure…" Yuffie said with Zack this time hearing Yuffie and her worries… thankfully Cloud was at the head of the group so he could talk lowly if he wanted to Yuffie.
"Look Yuffie, regardless of things, Emerald wouldn't go down without a fight. We just gotta believe. Trust me, I've seen him take hard beatings." Zack said.
Yuffie sniffed a bit and wiped a tear from her eye.
"Really?" Yuffie said when she looked at Zack hopefully.
Zack nods his head.
"I know so."
Yuffie sniffed a bit more but this time hugged Zack to thank him for the cheering up… seems like Yuffie came a long way from her being a materia thief and trickster to the group to really caring about Emerald it seems.
Zack did smile a bit in his helmet and hugged Yuffie back.
Though he did let her go when the group go to the next level and Zack had a dropped jaw when he saw a seemingly never ending cylinder like boulders with slots with alcoves with holes big enough for people to stand under to pass by safely… it's like a obstacle course of the deadliest manner.
"Are you kidding me?!" Zack said with a shocked look.
"Apparently not… I'm not seeing them stop rolling at all." Red said when he saw that as they came and went… more took their place as Aerith looked at the others.
"We can't turn back now… Emerald isn't anywhere I can see since it looks like a pool like area is the only thing nearby and a path leading deeper seems to be the next place we need to go… lets try and get to that pool… all we have to do is just stay calm and move under the boulders with the large gaps in them and we can get by without getting squished." Aerith said when she tried to keep the group's spirits high.
"Right… keep calm." Caith Sith said.
"Yeah… for now lets go two at a time… Yuffie do you want to come with me first?" Aerith said when she smiles at Yuffie kindly.
Yuffie nods her head.
"Okay."
Aerith nods her head before she and Yuffie get ready to run and while many look worried… when Yuffie and Aerith start running, they manage to run, stop, duck, and get by some of the boulders with close calls and Zack sighs in relief when he sees them get to the middle part of the large room with the rolling boulders with holes in them.
'So far so good.' Zack thought but was still worried for the two, Aerith mostly.
In no time with many making turns to get over or under the boulders… they managed to make it to the middle of the area with the large pool that… oddly starts to glow near the group…
"What's with glowing?" Caith Sith said.
"I don't know… not fully at least… a… I… can't understand things but I… can hear words… wait… show… you're going to show us?" Aerith said while many look confused as the pool of water glows brightly making many shield their eyes… when they opened them they saw a strange room filled with strange carvings on them… looked like some kind of images and a close comparison would be egyptian images but that was A, most likely the Cetra and B, no one knew about Egyptians on Gaia so this was new for many… though they oddly saw Tseng in the room… he looked unharmed and when a confused Zack went to him… Tseng phased right through him for some reason while he was looking at the walls and Elena the Turk was with him… this was most likely the past it seems.
However in canon, it looks like this was mainly about the promised Land talk as Elena left to report to the President about things which was while Tseng said something about Dinner with Elena… strange… the president should know about this… unless Elena was late or got lost… he should know more… maybe Emerald passed her and she didn't get to Midgar to report on things and may have even missed the others… so many questions… but the shocker was that Sphiroth appeared in the image showing he got here after Tseng said something about the images on the wall… not being about the promised lands?
"So… you opened the door… well done…" Sephiroth said while Tseng looks shocked to see Sephiroth here.
However he calmed himself when he wondered what to do as he decided to try and by time to think.
"This place… what is it?" Tseng asked while Sephiroth approached him.
"A Lost treasure house of knowledge… a Wisdom of the ancients…" Sephiroth said as he looked amused.
"I… am becoming one with the Planet…" Sephiroth said, shocking Tseng and the others looking on… if this was an image of the past there was no way to help Tseng given he was alive outside but this was a shocker.
After this, Sephiroth went on to say things like what is housed here can help him do this and more but he gave Tseng a good hit with his sword… after that Tseng must have gotten out… in Canon this would end the imagery however… the images flashed again and this time the group were shocked to see Emerald entering the room while he held his head and used Onimusha like a walking stick to support himself and he leaned against a wall while he looked like he was sweating up a storm and unfortunately when Yuffie ran to him she phased right through him and this was most likely another moment in the past.
"Damn if this happened now, we gotta get to Emerald fast." Zack said.
"Wait… looks like there is more… doubt we can move without issues if the boulders are still moving behind us." Red said while making a point… this was showing images of the past, no one could touch or talk to Emerald so even if they tried anything, nothing good would happen… and boy things went south as Emerald walked further into the room and he knelt to look at blood on the ground.
"Blood?... fresh…" Emerald said… the others in the room were shocked though when an amused Sephiroth appeared nearby Emerald from behind from the shadows… no attack yet but this was ominous in many levels and with Emerald crippled, this was not good..
"Sephiroth!" Cloud said with a serious look.
"Yeah, an image of the past version…" Red said with a growl when he was displeased as Cloud at seeing the silver haired swordsman.
A moment later, Emerald sensed Sephiroth and looked over his shoulder with one eye.
"Why did I have a feeling you would be waiting here for me… you trying to get something from here out of me… or just enjoying the fact I can't move as I can?" Emerald said while he got up and turned to Sephiroth while he held his head.
Sephiroth chuckles.
"Hehe, it amuses me you got here just like the last one."
"Yeah well doubt he had headaches and flashes of imagery going on in his skull… I'm stubborn like that though… let's cut the crap though… all these images… it's like I'm seeing the past, present… and future… given many of them… honestly got more reason to castrate Hojo… and you… you have one hell of a sick plan… the Black Materia… Meteor… this place… honestly… given what I dug up… given I can't die in the normal means… ever think I would just destroy the Black materia before it could be-!" Emerald tried to say as he and many looking on had shocked looks with the women covering their mouths as Sephiroth used some insane kind of speed well above average… and pierced Emerald right through his Core…. Cracking it greatly as a result as Sephiroth's sword pierced through him.
"EMERALD!" Yuffie and Zack screamed with wide eyes.
"You know outsider… you really should mind your own business." Sephiroth said as he lets go of his blade after thrusting it deeper and moved to push Emerald back and Emerald crashed to land on his back with the sword standing from his chest while Emerald was unmoving and he dropped Onimusha… normally Onimusha would be able to move on his own but needed Emerald's energy to do so in some cases and he couldn't do anything right now and Sephiroth looks more amused now.
"Can't kill you persay… but I know enough from that Bordux fellow about your weaknesses… good luck recovering from this with a sword in your chest… and as for those images… well good luck trying to change fate than… because I will welcome it." Sephiroth said while Emerald tried to sit up but his core cracked more and he fell unmoving on the ground with the whites of his eyes being seen as Sephiroth chuckles as he left the room and the room glows as the images fade showing the group back in the area with the rolling boulders and the pool… with no boulders rolling now thankfully but after what the group saw and Emerald getting taken out…
"That bastard!" Yuffie said as she was crying but was enraged.
"Come on, the boulders are out of the way, sooner we get to Emerald, sooner we can help him and figure out what Sephiroth is after here… if it's this Black materia, we should make sure we get rid of it if we are able." Cloud said as he gestured for everyone to follow him… if this happened in the past Emerald may still be TKOed with a Sword in his core preventing him from moving and who knows what else as well.
Everyone nodded as they followed Cloud.
'Hang on Emerald.' Zack thought.
As the group rushed along now… the scene fades to black as things keep getting more and more tense… Emerald was down, Sephiroth was inside the temple, and then there is the Black materia and this Meteor thing Emerald talked about… just what did the temple show him?... honestly it was hard to say but if Sephiroth wanted Fate to change… looks like this story will be well and truely going along the remake route of FF VII more and given the cloaked figure… looks like unlike with Zack being alive… looks like if fate tried to change too much… the Whispers may get involved…