Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy Menagerie: Generations of Aspirations ❯ Prelude ( Prologue )

Final Fantasy Menagerie: Generations of Aspirations

Prelude

 

An aura of demise coursed through the mountains while wind tunnels were created from the ongoing storm. Thunderous clouds provided nothing but more darkness, leaving an even greater aroma of death throughout the land. Crackling from above woke the girl from her sleep with her heart pounding in her chest. Frail digits were pressed against the cotton over her top form in attempt to calm her fast beating heart. Perspiration filled the girl's body, making the nightgown she wore stick to her figure while throwing the light sheets from her lower body and twisting her form to hang her legs over the edge of her bed.

 

Cold greeted the woman's bare feet while she tried to keep her breathing under control. Golden mane set from the scalp, resting over her shoulders and touching the mattress beneath her; a few strands messily intertwined with others; most likely caused by constant tossing and turning for hours on end. Touching the same hand to her forehead, she wiped off a few beads of sweat that formed at her brow before shifting her eyes to the glass window of the room, where a green haired teen sat; crooked into the window sill with her knees pulled tightly to her chest; a locked gaze to the world beyond the looking glass.

 

“Rydia?”

 

Jade tiers never shifted their gaze from the outside world, not even when slender digits were placed upon her bare shoulder; cold skin greeting the older woman who had just awakened.

 

“Rydia, you're freezing…”

 

Head had been leaned against the stone wall for support, though it was soon lifted when the older blonde woman returned with a robe, placing it over the girl's shoulder. Rydia still refused to shift her gaze.

 

“Rydia … what's wrong?”

 

“You can't hear it?”

 

Her voice was so quiet, the older woman had to strain her ears in order to catch the teen's words. The white mage lowered her head a bit, shifting it to the side as she took a look through the glass, to the darkness beyond. The storm had started earlier in the week, and continued to pour over the kingdom mercilessly, leaving citizens to take shelter into their homes or the local tavern and inn. The kingdom itself wasn't as large as most others throughout the world, but held a hefty wall surrounding the semi-large castle. A smaller wall was placed beyond the castle, surrounding itself as well as the small village placed in front of the castle; the kingdom of Baron.

 

“Hear what?”

 

The blonde shifted a few strands from her current field of view; various clashes of the sky above, lighting crashing through the heavens, while thick black clouds swirled overhead, preventing the early morning sky the very light the planet pleaded for.

 

“Death…”

 

Slender digits were placed upon the smaller girl's shoulder.

 

“Rydia…” The woman started. The white magus' face saddened while her head lowered, giving the girl a small hug.

 

“The planet … it's dying …”

 

The blonde was brought from her sympathy actions, as her sapphire hues shifted to the green haired girl once again; determination suddenly flaring in her eyes.

 

“I hear it,” her voice choked up a bit, as her head lowered; various expressions shifting over her facial features. “I hear the planet. I hear her voice … it's calling out to me.”

 

“Calling out?” The older woman asked, curious to what would bring the worlds last summoner to such a fragile state. Though, the woman recalled the fact that the girl's age didn't match her natural appearance, it was through the art of magic that her body and mind separated in age. When one learns the art of magic, they become one with the magi found throughout the planet; within every life source, borrowing its energy, using it, and bending it to their will. Mages are the ones who use this energy for the arts of light or dark. In becoming a mage, the use of magic expands ones own life span, as well as keep the mage in their most youthful, prime state of age; thus making it difficult to dictate an age.

 

The actual age of the green haired dark magus herself, not many knew. Meeting the girl at the age of a young child; disappearing for all of only two months with the sudden appearance of a teenager, aging well over ten years proved that finding the age of the girl was simply impossible; unless you asked her. Although the body did age, the mind was still considerably young; immature compared to master Callers; or Summoners as they are now referred to as. Being the last of her kind, and a child at mind, the endless voices of the planet seemed the only thing to comfort the girl after their battle with Zeromus; her voice loosing the will to speak.

 

Granted the ability to draw on the forces of Earth's Elements to aid them in battle, Summoners were once a race of people living in solitude though that is another tale to tell. They are born with the ability to cast magic, as well as go far beyond the minds of mortals, expanding the variety of magic abilities; sometimes far beyond that of a high level magus. The life span of a summoner is also much longer than that of a black magus. They are also more connected with the life energy of creatures, plants, and the planet itself; thus the reasoning for the girl's current state. With no connection to her fellow Callers, the girl developed a close connection to the planet itself. Whatever the planet felt, she felt; and vice versa.

 

Rain clouds would develop over the girl's depression; and it worked the other way around. If the girl woke up feeling up beat, the clouds would part to mirror the girl's attitude, gathering energy from the brightest star above. With such a long and treacherous storm beyond the looking glass, it was unfathomable to know just what the small girl's mind felt; a lost expression upon her features while she tightly grasped her legs, arching her back forward while leaning her chin on her knees, on the brink of tears.

 

The glass shattered. Eyes were widened in both shock and terror, as a black shadow-like hand grasped the throat of the green haired summoner, forcing her into the air and straight into the wall on the other side of the room, smashing into it with enough force to shake the tower they stood in. The hand that grasped the girl's neck tightly had no other connection, aside from the arm like structure it had formed in order to hold the girl pinned against the wall. Slowly, however, a black mist arose from the shattered window, and poured onto the floor like a river of death, making the white mage back away in fear; eyes shifting form the floor to Rydia with determination once again filling her sapphire hues. The mist started to take form, just as its voice called out to the green haired witch it currently held in its death grip.

 

“Caller …”

 

A white glow suddenly filled the room; all eyes turning toward the sorceress of light. Sapphire hues faded and flashed white, while winds surrounded her form, and taking the appearance of levitation, floating inches above the stone flooring. Her frail hands moved in a rhythmic motion, as she chanted in an ancient tongue; the language of a white mage.

 

“Goddess of Light, I call upon your power! White magic Holy! Shirokaze!!”

 

A sphere of energy erupted within the circular wave her hands moved in; the power expanding and pulsating to life, as several rope-like beams shot out from the sphere, smashing into the creature that had just taken form, exploding upon impact. More energy was forced into the Holy attack; the most powerful offensive spell a white mage can achieve, taking most mages an entire lifetime to master. A blinding flash engulfed the room, as the voice from before shrieked out in excruciating pain.

 

The death grip around the summoner's throat was instantaneously released upon the start of the magical attack; the jaded hued teen dropping to the floor in a crouched stance and ready for the initiative as her eyes flared to life. Lifting her thin form from the ground, the mist spiraled to take form once again; both her hands moving in a similar motion of the white robed blonde across from her. A soft wind spun around her, making her hair rise and dance to the soundless tune.

 

“Kaminari!”

 

From the palm of her right extended hand, a small spark of energy erupted; and from that sphere, shot out an enormous bolt of lighting that soared straight through the mist, tearing a giant hole that only spread as the bolt widened with added force. After tearing through its opponent, the bolt smashed into the side of the bedroom wall, nearly tearing straight through the stone and to the outside of the eastern tower. The hole in the mist suddenly pulled together, taking the shape of a human; a very deformed, shadow-like creature with similarities to a human.

 

With an inhumane twist of its neck, the head of the creature glared its nonexistent eyes hatefully at the white mage across the room. Completely ignoring its previous target, the shadow demon launched its form to the blonde; her lips already parted to speak yet another enchantment.

 

“Hayo…”

 

A holographic cloak suddenly appeared around the creature; the hour hand moving in seconds and slowing itself with each tick; bringing the creatures movements to match that of the slowing clock, and reducing the speed of its attack as well as all its movements. With the completion of the spell, the blonde haired mage had just enough time to throw her body to the right; the creature smashing its face into the stone wall in which she had just been partially leaned against. Strands of emerald fell over jaded hues; the dark summoner pushing herself forward and taking advantage of the creature's miss.

 

“Shi…”

 

Her voice echoed through the darkness of the room, as shadows collected at her command; moving like a snake, black energy slithering upon the ground to make a black portal swirl into existence just in front of its target. Emerging from the portal was the keeper of death himself; clad in a black robe, hood over his skeleton form and covering his face; bony hands grasping his weapon of choice tightly. The tip of his scythe in which he yielded shined with energy as it rose to strike, cutting clean through the shadow demon, tearing it completely in half and ending its existence.

 

Horrifying to both mages, the moment the spell ended, the creature reformed once again; the slow magic spell the blonde had summoned suddenly wearing off, moving swiftly toward the jaded mane girl, its entire form expanding and engulfing the girl in complete darkness. Attempting to struggle against it only made things more difficult for the girl, as the creature took a thick liquid-like form and moving with so much weight behind it, it send the girl crashing through the side opening that led to the veranda. Frail hands tried desperately to grasp onto the thin curtain shades she had just passed, but with no visual aid to guide her hands, her attempts were meaningless. Staggering back, the sorceress couldn't even see her own demise; tilting back over the railing, and not even being able to scream out in horror to the frightful and lengthy drop to the raging waters below.

 

“Rydia!!”

 

The blonde was instantly in a rush for the balcony, not hesitating in the least as she threw her form and leapt from the stone, diving head first after the two. She witnessed Rydia struggling to break from the hold, with the wind picking up all around her; the water below becoming larger and larger; a quick motion of her hands would let her sacred words roll off her tongue.

 

“Naru!!!”

 

A soft white glow extended from her hands while a circle of feathers surrounded her body, lowering the fast rate of falling. Her spell reached out to Rydia as well, the feathers circling her form just as she kicked the creature off. The girl's hair spiraled around her, as her hands were thrown out to either side, her pace toward the river that surrounded the castle coming to a complete stop mere inches above the water's surface. The white mage joined the girl in their levitated stance, confidently standing next to the shorter mage; defensively pushing herself forward, in front of the summoner, with an arm held in front; ready for the next attack.

 

Guards voices could be heard in the distance as a crack in the sky sounded; light bursting and giving life to the battle that was about to partake. The creature then lifted its form from its hovering mist-like state, taking refuge several yards away, and reforming itself into its humanoid form. Lighting shattered the darkness around their battle arena, before the shadows would rise once again.

 

“Rosa!”

 

Cecil Harvey; Paladin White Knight, and bringer of peace to the land of Baron, as well as the world. Lavender locks once ebony danced to the tune of the four strong winds; armor worn clean and strong. Cape flowing along behind him, floating inches from the stone wall's flooring he currently stood upon. Sword already extended outward with one leg perched upon the upper part of the high raised wall of the castle, reading to take strike.

 

Kain Dragoon; Warrior of the Skies, and Baron's First Knight. A dragon shaped helmet worn upon his head, with a mask wrapped over his face. Clad in azure hued armor, the man wielded a long pole arm, with a blade that would cut down any large demon. The two warriors leaped high into the air, their movements identical, even to their rate of falling. Sword and spear twirled in a rhythmic pattern, both aiming to take the creature's head right off. Rydia backed away quickly, shifting her weight while her body suddenly followed the command; floating over the water and out of the way of the duo's attack. The white mage now dubbed Rosa took no time in casting another levitation spell; her hands motioning in an enchanted way, while the words rolled off her tongue with ease.

 

“Naru!”

 

Both knights were surrounded by a magical set of feathers; pulsating with light, as their bodies moved to their command, increasing their speed just as their armored boots tapped the tips into the surface of the water while lighting and thunder crashed in the background once again. The pair made a dash for the creature, spear and sword twirling as one; one synchronized with the other's movements. Spear after sword cut through the creature's body, tearing straight through the mist in its attempts to reform the last injured impalement.

 

Rydia now floated forward, her eyes pulsating with energy while she gathered the life force from the raging storm around her, breathing in its ki; feeling its rage and pain; using it to fuel her magic even more. Her eyes flashed a brilliant emerald hue, strong winds circling around her and lifting her higher than the Float spell Rosa had used. Her long forest green mane was lifted, while her hands glowed brightly with energy, her lips parting to speak the words for the summoning spell.

 

“God of Water, King of Summons, Leviathan I summon you! Tsunami!”

 

Water gathered from the moat that surrounded the castle; building up into a giant wave. A serpent shined just as the lighting cracked overhead, giving light to the creature that had been called into the battle. The winds pushed and danced to his command, as the giant serpent known as Leviathan summoned the waters to a higher stand point, gathering the winds of the storm to force the tidal wave onward. The small creature had nowhere to run, as the water completely took him over, smashing into his form and completely vanquishing him from reality.

 

Jaded hues widened. Sweat beaded from the girl's forehead, and realization soon kicked in. Panting heavily, she quickly looked to her summoned creature in the few seconds before it would return to its home; a dimension beneath the surface of the planet; the Land of the Summons. Just as the Caller had feared, a soft red hue started to form around the serpent, before the radiating light pulsed with energy. Leviathan let out a cry a fraction of a second before the light pulsed to its brightest point, and completely dissolving the existence of the god of water.

 

“NO!”

 

Rydia cried out, as she made a dash for where her summoned creature should have been; the floating spell only hastening her movements across the surface of the water; tears pouring from her eyes while panting heavily; exhausted after the constant spell casting in the small amount of time the battle actually was.

 

“Leviathan…”

 

Kain stepped forward toward Rydia, with Cecil and Rosa right behind him; witnessing the girl fall to her knees with her hands in her lap, her head tilted downward.

 

“Why…”

 

Like a knife through her chest, she felt the summon leave the existence of the planet; wiped from reality just as she had felt when her village had been destroyed. The thought sent the girl into an even more destructive state; her chest heaving for air while she sobbed uncontrollably.

 

Thunderous cackling cracked open the sky, as the winds started to pick up; sending some guards back to shelter, while others awaited orders; Kain and Cecil however completely ignoring them, as the stepped closer toward the fragile girl they had both come to know and love. Rosa hesitated; a hand held to her chest, while images of before plagued her mind. The look upon the girl's face was that of someone who had lost everything, who had felt that the only reason they were still alive was because fate would find humor in the girl suffering slightly more. The white mage cursed under her breath, shaking her head free of such thoughts.

 

Sapphire hues would blink the moisture free, letting it trickle down her cheeks unchecked. Winds pushed hard against the castle walls, sending all awaiting soldiers to the barracks, seeing as they weren't receiving any orders from the two leads of Baron, and the fiend had been dispersed of. Trees of the forest all but lost their once green leaves; bare branches tangling into one another, with various creatures stirring about just beyond the castles wall; where the white mage currently had shifted her vision to, like a sixth sense.

 

“We should get back into the castle,” Cecil was quick to announce when he approached the group, kneeling down in his armor as he placed his gloved hand upon the Caller's shoulder for comfort, though truthfully having no words for the girl. What could you say to someone who's lost everything, and if she seemed comfortable with something, that would be lost as well. The loss of a Summon seemed to great for the girl, as she instantly crumbled the moment the White Knight's hand was placed upon her bare shoulder, falling to the wet grass. “Rydia…”

 

“CECIL!”

 

Rosa's voice caught the knights attention, as he quickly turned to her current field of view; more demon creatures forming from the forest, their non-existent eyes suddenly glowing a scarlet red hue. His hand left the summoner, as he took a defensive stance in front of her, knowing good and well what needed to be protected.

 

“Kain!”

 

The dragoon knight was instantly by the warrior of light's side, his azure armor reflecting the darkness from the forest, lowering his head as he took his crouching stance. With his leg parted backward, the other leading in the front and bent at a forty-five degree angle; his spear tucked under his left arm, while his right hand reached over his chest, actually making the appearance of a dragon in the armor he wore. Still clad in only her night attire, Rosa took her step next to Cecil. As the knight took a step forward toward the approaching monsters, Rosa stayed with the broken down summoner, bringing herself to one knee as she rubbed the girl's back soothingly.

 

“Rydia, we have to go,” she quickly announced, as her woman's intuition picked up several more creatures on approach. “It's not safe here.”

 

“It's not safe anywhere,” was her mumbled reply, refusing to move herself from the ground she currently laid upon. “The planet is changing.”

 

“Changing?” Rosa couldn't begin to understand the words of the dark mage, while shouts and calls could be heard from the two warriors meeting the demon creatures half way to the castle.

 

“Hayai!!”

 

A white aura shot up around Cecil, as two holographic clocks appeared around both the white knight as well as Kain; the two images showing the second hand ticking in real time. With each passing second, however, doubled in speed, as well as their movements; mirroring the spell's image as it faded from existence. With a hastening spell at hand, Kain was second to act, spinning his spear around in front of him, before he leaped high into the air, almost appearing to disappear within the darken clouds above.

 

Cecil spun his sword around, cutting through one of the creatures, but they simply reformed itself together, without a scratch upon its black skin. Two more were decapitated, only to have their heads fall back upon their shoulders. Like liquid however, the creatures pieced themselves back together no matter how many times the white knight severed their limbs.

 

Kain's spear shot down from the heavens, smashing into the skull of one, while he came down right after it, his boot connecting with the one next to it, sending it hurling backward, and knocking down a few others. In the amount of time he had jumped into the air, Kain could have sworn the number of creatures they were currently facing had at least doubled, if not tripled. The dark emitting skies made it difficult to count; as well as their constant attacks.

 

The duo had quickly been forced to take the defensive, as the number of opponents grew even more, backing all the way to Rosa and Rydia, while a swarm of soldiers from the castle walls shot numerous amounts of arrows; mages casting spell after spell, finally joining into the battle to defend their home. Mages lined up along the wall, with a dark aura growing around them, while white mages brought forth spell after spell to keep the two knights well restored, and well defended.

 

“There's no point,” Rydia finally admitted, burying her face in the wet grass, while her small hands grasped a handful and pulled the shreds of green from the Earth. “They'll all die.”

 

“Rydia,” Rosa quickly forced the girl to sit up, with her hands roughly grasping her shoulders. “We can't give up hope.”

 

“Hope?” Rydia almost laughed, while her head tilted back, as if her entire body had lost the will to continue moving. “There's nothing left. We're all dead.”

 

“Rydia!” Rosa screamed, giving her a shake. “Rydia, we need your help. Our black mages are no were near the level you're at. We need your magic. We need Meteor!”

 

“M-Meteor…” Rydia's eyes fazed upward to the sky, as if searching for an answer. Her breathing quickened slightly, while her hand went to her chest, attempting to catch the breath she had just lost. “My magic?”

 

“Rosa! Look out!”

 

The white mage instantly brought her vision upward, just as a black creature snaked its way through the grass; like a predator, it rose upward, and attempted to crash down upon both mages. Rydia's eyes flared to life, and in less than an instant, had her hands moving in a fast motion no other mage could match.

 

“Hikaze!”

 

The eyes of the creature instantly widened, as several flare explosions greeted its chest, and sent it flying backward, while the explosions continued to drown it; black smoke emitting from the creature's body when the spell was done. Rosa turned quickly to Rydia, only to find the girl already standing with a determined look in her eyes she hadn't seen since their battle with Zeromus.

 

“Rydia…”

 

“Kaze!!”

 

The skies opened up at her command, as a giant twister formed in front of her. With a motion of her hands, it gathered up several of the creatures, and sent them in all different directions; tens to twenty of the creatures easily brushed aside. When the tornado vanished, the bodies hadn't even dropped from the high ground before the black mage brought forth another powerful spell.

 

“Jishin!!”

 

When her arms pulled apart, the very Earth shook, rumbling as it opened up, sending several down to the bottomless pit the mage had created before her. Rain poured down harder and faster, as the green attired woman panted heavily after casting a heavy assortment of spells. Cecil and Kain pulled next to her, both holding an equal amount of exhaustion upon their faces. With the array of black mages surrounding the eastern wall of the castle, a simultaneous casting of lighting was brought forth, with Rydia at the first command.

 

“Kaminari!!!”

 

The shouts were voiced as one; thick clouds gathering the energy from above, before a countless amount of bolts soared downward, smashing into the Earth below, striking through numerous black creatures that stood too close to the castle walls as it were. Cecil and Kain backed away, while keeping the mage between them. Stopping suddenly, Rosa froze in her steps, as if sensing something.

 

“Rydia?”

 

Kain was the first to notice the girl's absence from their current run toward the castle entrance, with Cecil instantly turning to the man that had called to the girl. Rydia turned to the swarm of creatures heading toward them, with a mix of rain and sweat drenching her body, making the night attire stick to her young form. Bare feet started toward the running creatures, her eyes suddenly locked into a trance-like state.

 

“Rydia, what are you doing?!”

 

“I'll finish them off, get everyone into the castle!”

 

“And how do you plan to do that?”

 

“Meteor…”

 

Kain was first to shake his head, throwing his spear out as he spoke his opinion.

 

“There's no way you have the energy to perform that spell now!” He quickly shouted to the girl.

 

“We'll be able to put up a better defense once everyone's in the castle walls,” Rosa quickly added to the group, attempting to keep everyone moving while the creatures grew closer and closer to the castle.

 

Rydia paid the words of wisdom no mind, while she walked toward the creatures; ignoring the pleas of her companions. The three then continued to retreat inside, making it to the draw bridge, both soldiers looking back to assure the black mage's safety. The girl turned her walk into a run along the wet grass, in between the lighting and fire spells that went on around her, and ignoring the deathly cries of the creatures of darkness.

 

Each step she took sent a wave of energy outward, pushing against the grass strands and making the appearance of levitation. Soon, however, with her hands moving in a mystical motion, the girl would levitate from the Earth, while winds surrounded her, pushing her hair to stand up, while her eyes glowed a forest green hue.

 

“Gods of the skies, obey my command! Black magic Meteor! Kamikaze!!”

 

Cloud suddenly swirled around the girl's form from above; the heavens parting the black blanket they held over the lands while answering to the call. Strong winds picked up around the girl, making her forest green hair shoot upwards, her clothes like rags on her as they swayed ferociously back and forth, with her eyes glowing, concentrating all of her energy into the spell. From above, several meteors flew, redirecting their course from simply passing by the planet, taking a downward spiral toward their appropriate targets; tearing through the atmosphere, and smashing into the land.

 

Several giant pieces of rock smashed into the grass, lifting the very Earth the dark shadows stood upon; completely destroying over half the remains. Rock after rock fell from the sky, while an aura erupted around the dark magus. Creatures became buried in the uplifted Earth, or simply flattened by the giant meteorites falling from the skies. Thousands shrieked out while their lives were brought to a bitter end.

 

“More on the East Wing!” The shout had come from the eastern wall, with mages tiredly attempting to ward off flying demons with the last of their magic. Cecil's head turned instantly, his white cape flapping along side him, sword tightly held at the hilt. An explosion suddenly sounded, with half the eastern wall erupting into pieces of rock, flying every which way with hoards of monsters and demons now attempting to storm the castle. “The castle wall's been breached, close the perimeter!”

 

Rosa tore her eyes from the eastern wall back to the scene to the west, just below the large wall she stood upon. Fire and destruction as far as she could see, the Meteor spell having successfully stopped over a hundred demons in their tracks. From the forest edge, however, more hoards of monsters, demons, and creatures she had never seen before came rushing outward, her hope slowly deteriorating. Her sapphire blue hues traveled down to Rydia, who levitated slowly to the ground, the green swirls of energy leaving her body.

 

“Rydia!” she called out just as the girl fell to the ground, unmoving. With half the kingdom's army now placing their defense onto the other side of the castle, Rose jumped onto the castle wall's edge and leaped over, her gown flowing dramatically around her.

 

“Naru!” she quickly called out, with feathers and white energy circling her body. Her pace toward the ground lessened more and more, until she merely hovered over the moat that reached around the castle. She quickly sprinted across the water's edge toward the fallen dark magus, while more and more creatures attempted to take over their kingdom.

 

“Rydia, are you alright?” She gasped for air after her all out run, her levitation spell forcing her to hover while she leaned over, pulling the girl's face from the ground. Sapphire hues widened a second time, noticing a black emblem upon the girl's forehead forming a strange black aura. A symbol she had never seen before, continuing to pulse with black energy, the girl's breathing dead even with the pulse. “Rydia…”

 

The monsters continued to surround the two, and Rosa pulled the girl close to her. With determination in her eyes, she placed the girl onto the ground, with a swirl of white energy circling around them. Her hands moved in a mythical manner, while she brought forth her white mage powers.

 

“Kiru! Kuri!”

 

A flash of blue and green energy swirled around them, creating a semi-transparent pair of sphere-like walls, surrounding the two, and protecting them from both magic and physical attacks. Rosa pulled her bow at the ready, placing an arrow against the tightly pulled string, and taking aim against any predator that dare try to tear through her wall. The tips of her arrows flashed a similar white and blue energy to her Holy attack, charging up the energy and letting loose her archery attack.

 

The arrow tore straight through the chest of one monster, with a volcanic eruption of black and purple blood, splattering over several creatures surrounding it. She pulled out another arrow from her quiver, quickly taking aim again, charging up the arrow with her magic and sending it coursing through another monster's chest. One after another, she sent her arrows outward, while the barrier surrounding protected them from several magic attacks, sending them all straight back to the creature that had summoned them.

 

The storm clouds slowly started to encircle the pair of mages, while more hoards of unknown creatures attempted to strike, clashing against the shield while pulsed with each successful hit, though still managed to ward off their attacks. Magic clashed against the sphere, redirecting each one toward the enemy that had cast it, setting their own magic against them. Rosa panted heavily while her arrows tore easily through her own shield and into the hearts of her enemies, her eyes shifting up to the darkening sky; the swirling clouds now leering overhead.

 

“What's going on?” she asked aloud in between breaths, taking another arrow from the quiver and charging it up. After sending the countless arrow to the closest enemy, she turned to find Rydia now lifting from the ground, the strange symbol on her head glowing even more. Black and green energy spun around the girl's form, and Rydia had to jump in order to grab her, wrapping her arms around the girl's midsection. Her back was arched straight up, her eyes still closed and breathing calm and relaxed. Rosa panicked. “Why is this happening, what's going on?!”

 

“The planet,” Rydia appeared to speak quietly, though her voice seemed far away. “It's calling for me…”

 

Rosa's grip tightened, while they rose from her protective shield, just as a fire spell torched where they would have stood. Her head pressed against the girl's midsection, afraid to look down as they continued to rise.

 

“Rydia, we can't leave them,” Rosa whispered, taking the chance to look down. Horror filled her widened eyes, while the demons and monsters quickly took over the castle, the town of Baron having been turned to a complete wasteland. Buildings were on fire, and death reeked over the land. She turned her eyes tearfully from the scene. “Please Rydia, we have to help them…”

 

“We can no longer save them,” she continued, her voice still sounding as if it were miles away. “We were never meant to save anyone. I must return to the planet.”

 

“Rydia … wait!”

 

Rydia's symbol grew brighter and brighter, while they continued to raise higher and higher into the sky. Rosa looked down again, now finally realizing their inevitable efforts. Tiny black spots as far as she could see, all traveling from village to village, from kingdom to kingdom, tearing apart any civilization they came across. The white mage sobbed into Rydia's chest, gripping her as hard as she could in hopes to not fall. The symbol grew brighter and brighter, forcing the white mage's attention upward. Suddenly, a flash engulfed them both, vanquishing them from existence.

 

 

 

 

 

oOoOoOoOo

 

 

 

Perspiration drenched azure cotton; sleeveless but fully covering the neck; brown straps over the pair of broad shoulders, with a sheath attached for the excessively large swords the blonde spiky haired soldier chose to yield in battle. Hair spiked in ways that defied all laws of physics, with thick strands clumping together; bangs coming down to points over the right side of his face while beads of sweat dripped from his brow. Metallic armor worn over his right shoulder, a variety of specially designed armor over his arms, and thick leather gloves worn over his hands, gripping the hilt of the large sword held before him. Violet in hue, and pulsing with energy, the sword took the energy from the wielder, and in times of near death; strengthened the sword to its full potential, feeding off the energy around; the sword of revenge, the strongest weapon he had ever wielded with powers that went far beyond his own comprehension; the Ultima Weapon. Parachute-like pants, light weight and easy to move in, legs shifting from one to the other with the air inside the pants enough to keep the legs cool during this workout, making the prediction of his movements that much more difficult.

 

Before him stood another soldier wielding a blade. Black leather boots strapped tightly to mid shins, with leather pants reaching up to his waits and held tightly together by a gray colored belt. Shirtless, and lightweight, shoulders were built for a swift but forceful fighter; a general of war wielding the most sharpest, swiftest, and most clean cut blade crafted and forged by the unknown; the Masamune. Lengthy and curved to a sharp edge, the wielder held his arms up, dipping the blade at a sideway-hold, his stance similar with one elbow to his shoulder, the other motioned over his torso. Silver mane poured down his back, and over his shoulders; lengthy strands similar to his sword, each coming down to a sharp tip with the appearance that with a simple motion of his head, the tips of his hair could cut your head clean off with little or no resistance.

 

As if waiting for the opportune moment, both dashed forward, each soldier shifting off their forward foot and clashing blade to blade, with a powerful shockwave resulting in the sudden force of power against power. The black arena around them came to life, as the wave of white energy erupted from the two blades touch, expanding with light throughout the black interior, to beyond the sight of both warriors. Teal, Mako-infected hues glared hatefully to the sapphire orbs before him, holding the same energy swirl as his own; mirroring the experimentation both underwent to gain the power of Mako; the life force of the planet, strengthening both to a level far beyond the normal human.

 

The silver haired man was first to part, blade swung around as his body twisted, swirling around in a circle and aiming to take the younger man's head right off. The shorter, but broader warrior dropped to the ground, sideways, blade forced flat to the ground with his hands, lifting his chest from the ground before it hit, and swinging his body around in a similar circular motion, his foot extended to kick outward in attempts to kick out the soldier's legs.

 

More experienced and hasty the silver haired one was, weight shifting impossibly with one leg lifting into the air, then the other, completing a no-handed cartwheel to avoid the attack, both soldiers now regaining their composure simultaneously, swords ready to clash once again. The black attired swordsman was first this melee, moving fast as his blade tilted to the side, clashing against the purplish-blue weapon, power radiating off the immense, heavy weighted sword.

 

Sliding his blade along the other, the taller soldier shifted his thin katana to the side and as the blade broke apart, charged his shoulder into the smaller man's chest, knocking him staggering back, parting a hand from his blade momentarily in attempts to catch his balance. He began moving so fast his image split, making the appearance of two instead of one; the shirtless swordsman dashing for the staggering blond; blade pointed downward, as he lifted for up for a slash. Forty-five degree angle, the violet hued blade was shifted as both swords bounced off each other and erupted in another powerful blow of energy; each shockwave lighting up the darkness that surrounding them, showing how endless their fighting arena was; the very arena being the farthest depths of the blond haired soldier's own mind.

 

Another block of the thin blade would send the already off balanced soldier back even more. The silver haired man brought the hilt of his blade back, reversing his strike and breaking through the man's defenses, striking him in the abdomen with a low elbow strike, hitting him with the bottom of the hilt as well as with his extended elbow. The blond faltered only for a moment, before his cerulean hues blinked back to life, his head tilting to the side to avoid a sudden slash that would have split his face in two. His weight shifted to a forty-five degree angle, as he swung the giant blade in front of him, blocking a stabbing strike and forcing it to the side.

 

The black attired menace then lifted his katana up, aiming to end it with one last strike. Coming straight down, he attempted to chop the falling man in half, though hit nothing but the flat part of the blade; though succeeding in smashing him faster into the nonexistent flooring. Before the ground came, however, the wind was forced from the azure attired man's lungs, as the black leather boot of the silver haired swordsman was implanted into his chest, knocking him back upward. With a quick spin, the blade cut through the man's face, slashing a line across his forehead, and won between his eyes. Crimson instantly exploded from his face while his head tilted back from the strike in a light daze. With an extension of his other hand, an energy-like wave erupted from his palm, knocking the blond into the air.

 

The blond soared for only five feet, before his body twisted with great agility, back flipping in mid air, bringing his sword back to his offensive stance and landing with an extended hand for balance, swinging his sword to prevent the wind from faltering his landing. His hands than gripped the hilt of his Ultima Weapon tightly, teeth grinding against one another as he looked to the hateful glare his once called mentor chose to give him. Every pain he felt; every path he had taken; every person that had died because had been because of the very image his mind portrayed before him; the very darkest parts of his mind still controlled by the Jenova cells induced all those years ago.

 

A spark suddenly developed within the back of his mind, cerulean hues widening as his stance paused. His glade intensified, as winds started to swirl around the man like a small tornado. An aura sparked around him, brushing against his baggy pants and loose fitting shirt, making his hair sway this way and that. Flames erupted around him, red and orange mixing together, as the circle of flames danced around at its owners command. The Ultima Weapon was then forced outward, as the sword pulsed once again with life, the hue of the blade shifting to the darkest level of purple ever known; pulsing with life. A light suddenly shot at the top of the sword; a sphere of energy erupting and glowing brightly, lighting up the arena much more than the simple shockwaves of their swords from earlier.

 

The sword was then tilted to the side; time suddenly slowing down all around him. Sapphire greeted emerald, as their gaze locked upon one another. The ex-Soldier pushed off the ground from his front foot, twirling the blade with ease around him. With the thoughts of his friends and family in his mind; the whole world decided upon the outcome of this one battle; the weight of the world was suddenly replaced by a strong will and determination, the evil glare he received only fueling him more as he charged the formal General. Blood pouring down his face, the blond soldier let out a war dry; releasing his furious sword-cutting combination no other could muster; the infamous Omnislash technique.

 

The silver haired man was swift, his hands having to twist and pull the hilt of his sword to command the blade to block against each quick swing of the much heavier blade attacking him. Four clashes of their swords brought the Masamune from the General's tight hold; widening his eyes in pure shock. Mako infused hues met only for a moment; pausing time as they regarded one another. Hateful glare had shifted to shock, surprise, then … to complete serenity, as the violet blade slashed across the bare chest of the General, crimson splashing outward. Countless more furious slices would bring the attack to ridiculous amounts, but the over kill was the moment the blade touched the floor. With determination set in his eyes, the blond jumped high into the air, the tip of the sword once again shining brightly with a sphere of energy, spiraling light filling their endless battle ground.

 

A tight grip upon the hilt, and the sword was thrust into a downward motion, landing upon one knee as the energy of the sword poured into the final attack, erupting into an extraordinary explosion of power; knocking the silver haired soldier back several yards and onto his back. Twitching slightly, the blood stained soldier brought a trembling hand to his face; fingers greeted with a thick substance of liquid, which seemed to pour from everywhere. Letting out a final breath, his image soon faded, while the energy of his life erupted; imploding into itself before the globe of energy shattered into countless beads; all falling into the dark patch flooring below and fading from existence.

 

The blond haired man stood in the darkness around him, and found himself looking up; as if to answer a long calling that had been in the back of his mind since the start of his journey; to the voice that was pushed so far back, he had forgotten its very existence. Swirls of green energy radiated around him, surrounding his form and bringing light to the blackness around him. Shadows scattered, and life was brought to the once death-filled battle arena. A green hue fixated all around him, as his hand stretched upward, arching upward in attempts to reach the light above. From nonexistence, a hand reached back; frail and cream-colored baring no accessories over wrist or hand. The hand held familiarity to it; digits soft and warm to the touch. A familiar scent filled the air around him, completely washing over the smell of death and decay, filling his lungs with life and flowers, reaching up to the hand… the hand of a female; the only image he felt was the peace and most serene part of his mind and all human existence. The Ancient … The Cetra … The Flower-Girl …

 

“Aerith …”

 

“CLOUD!”

 

Everything around him became blurred, and distorted; the fantasy around him melting, as reality seemed to hit him like a slap across the face. Stone pillars broke apart all around him, shifting his weight constantly from one structure to the other, as the ground beneath him suddenly dropped. The hand that was once in his mind changed to the shape of his child hood friend, and the very voice that had called him from his deep meditation; giving him the most horrified and scared expressions. The girl attempted to reach her arm out further in attempts to collect the blond and bring him to the safety of her rock ledge. Eyes would be forced to widened, as the very rock she was knelt upon shook violently. More rocks fell from the ceiling of the cave-like structure they were in, breaking apart the safe haven the long brunette haired woman was upon, with no option but to shift her weight forward; falling toward the green pulsating liquid substance below; the Life Stream.

 

“Tifa!”

 

Cloud moved with great speed, his feet moving like quicksilver over the dropping pillars, hopping from one to another as he collected the girl with his left arm just before she fell passed him. Another two hops would have the blond leaping for another ledge; one that seemed slightly more safer than the previous; grasping on tightly as he held the martial artist in his other arm with a good lengthy drop to the Life Stream below.

 

“He caught 'er!” The loud-mouth, constantly-cursing pilot of the Highwind, Cid yelled out with a raise of his hand. Blonde spiked hair held upward together by the help of his piloting goggles, the old man pulled out a nicotine stick from the pack resting at his ear, instantly feeling the need to calm his soul.

 

Barret Wallace, the chosen leader of the group when the blonde haired Cloud wasn't around raised his gun arm up high when the two along the other side finally pulled themselves up, waving over to them to assure they were all right. Cloud waved his arm back, and leaned his body against a rock, with Tifa resting her head against his chest. She could hear his heart beating slowly, auburn hues searching up to the clouded eyes of her leader, worried still that the inner turmoil wasn't over just yet. How could she believe so? Every time she felt peace would come, something would smash that image away. She felt as if she were constantly on the run, and it wasn't until the flower girl made her appearance that she truly found what life was all about.

 

Aerith. Aerith Gainsburough. She never asked for anything, always attempted to appear cheerful, no matter what sort of demons lurked inside of her. She had sacrificed herself for the safety of her friends, family, and planet. Such an innocent soul having to end her life for the good of the planet. It made no sense. She could see the pain in Cloud's eyes the moment he had risen his sword, attempting to fight off the verbal abuse Sephiroth had plagued in his mind, torturing him until he gave his final swing at the head of the flower girl. Though he had fought off Sephiroth's mind control, he himself had showed up to finish the girl, piercing her through the back. He had stated he was a general, though held no honor when it came to a fair fight. She cursed his name while she tightened the hug around Cloud's waste.

 

“Tifa…”

 

His voice sounded so distant, the martial artist had to look up to assure that he was still there. His long yellow bangs cast shadows over his eyes, making it difficult to see just what expressed over his features.

 

“Get away from me,” he stated in a low voice. The martial artist was confused at first, not recognizing the tone in which he spoke. His breathing became shallow, and soon it felt as if the energy had slowly been drained from his body. The Ex-SOLDIER suddenly grasped his head, letting out a shocking scream. A tornado of black aura surrounded his body, while he viciously threw the girl off of him, coming to a stand while Tifa fell onto her back near the edge of the cliff. Her palms ripped open against the jagged flooring, with dirt clouds lifting at her fall. Her auburn eyes traveled upward, the lifting blond bangs, and Mako infused orbs, glaring with hate in her general direction.

 

“Cloud?” Tifa asked worriedly, her voice filled with concern and fear. She had seen those eyes too many times before, and thought the battle within Cloud's mind have finally come to an end when they defeated Sephiroth. Slowly, a sickening grin expressed over his lips, while his hands dropped from his face, the black aura diminishing shortly after. Fear continued to flow through her body, so much that she had been completely frozen in place. Cloud grabbed the hilt of his large blade, continuing over toward the girl with slow cautious steps. She recognized the murderous look on his face instantly, fear creeping up her spine, with flashes of Sephiroth taking his place, Mount Nibel reactor, and the slash that had been delivered across her chest.

 

“Cloud … no, don't …” She had been too choked back in fear to relay the words higher than a whisper, tears suddenly filling her eyes, making the image of her childhood friend blurry. Frozen in fear, the martial-artist could only watch in horror as Cloud lifted the Ultima weapon, time all of a sudden coming to a halt. Sephiroth slicing across her chest, piercing through the back of Aerith, the peaceful flower girl. Numerous images continued to flash by her eyes all at once, unable to decipher memory from reality.

 

Swirls of green energy lifted from the dirt rock around her, slowly wrapping around her legs and torso, instantly feeling a warmness entering the pit of her stomach. Her heart continued to race, as the blade came slower and slower down, with the mixture of green energy moving upward. Her eyes remained locked upon the murderous gaze delivered by Cloud, and the sadistic grin she could never forget. The life stream energy continued to rise, reaching the sharp tip of the blade, and surrounding it with its warm glow. As time sped up, the entire cavern was filled with a bright green flash, and Tifa suddenly felt nothing.

 

End Prelude