Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy Seven: Shadows of the Light ❯ Arc One: Rebirth of ShinRa ( Chapter 5 )

Arc I: Rebirth of ShinRa

Part V:

Raven looked down at Dark Nation who had moved to stand beside her. She couldn't resist reaching down and rubbing the top of her head. She smiled when she didn't growl at her and then summoned all of her energy to slide up onto the chocobo. An odd expression crossed her face and she looked at the bird more closely. "Is this Silvara's chocobo? What's your name..... Siydi!" Raven remembered. The bird warked happily at hearing its name. Raven gave Fenris a sideways glance and he just grinned sheepishly. Then she looked at Rufus as she took a deep breath. "I'm ready to go."

Ferris smiled at Raven, and the glanced at Rufus with a mocking expression of boredom. "Shall we?" As they set off, Ferris ran beside Rufus using the opportunity to speak with his friend. "So have you joined the mercenaries then?" He frowned and continued. "I'm still going to kill Silvara, even if she is an ally. Of course, I might wait until after Sierra is dead just for harmony's sake...but I doubt it." He glanced at Rufus.

"I understand why your father would have ordered the Turks after Malcolm, it's what I would have done in his place, brother or no. But, the fact remains that Silvara murdered my only brother in cold blood." His expression hardened and his eyes took on a haunted look. "They told me how he died Rufus. He was a fool, weak and stupid...but he didn't deserve that. As your friend, I have always supported you, just as the Nothgalea family once stood behind your father. Whatever you have decided, I'd like to help you, all I ask...when the time comes, no interference. I would have thought that you, above all people could appreciate the need for revenge."

*

Siydi warked happily again. For some reason, he liked her. This woman's scent was a joyful swirling of many colors, much like his own woman's scent, and she radiated a hurt/weak sense that raised all of his protective instincts. He could remember a time his woman had felt that way in his mind...water had flowed from her eyes for many days. He turned his serpentine neck and peered at the woman's face, no water dripped from her eyes but perhaps not all humans could do that, much in the way some chocobos couldn't climb tall mountains. Of course, she could be to hurt to have the water in her eyes. He kept his gait smooth in an effort not to jostle her just in case. Interesting. This was another person he could sense. His woman's mind touch was a gentle whispering call, but this woman's was louder and without direction. Not a calling or the desire for friendship, just a presence. Siydi made a contented chuckling noise, at least the woman drowned out the annoying man's presence.

Raven shivered and looked around at the dark tunnels that they had entered. She heard the gentle splash of the chocobo's feet as it walked through a puddle of water. Was it just her or was the bird TRYING not to jostle her around too much? She smiled as she rubbed the top of its head. She could hear Fenris speaking quietly to Rufus but could not make out the words. Nor did she really care to hear, what was spoken was between them. She yawned quietly, still tired from healing herself. She wished that she could just lay down and go to sleep but she knew if she tried something so foolish she would drop right off the bird's back. She looked down at Dark Nation who strode alongside her and almost laughed. Her company for the moment was animals. She longed to talk to Rufus but she would wait for the moment.

Raven looked up when she thought that she heard a noise in the distance. Was she just imagining things? No Dark Nation heard it too. A light rumble escaped from her chest and her ears twitched. It was definite. They were not alone in the tunnel.

*

Rufus nodded to Fenris, not looking at his face, but keeping his eyes on the tunnel where they ran. Then upon hearing something that was out of place within these tunnels, he slowed then stopped. He held a hand out to stop Fenris. "Do you hear that?" he asked his friend. He took a couple steps further on into the tunnel, he could see the light at he end, which meant they were almost though it. Listening carefully he listened for the sound again. There.....a growl. He walked back to Fenris and Raven. Dark Nation was growling softly in her throat at the darkness that surrounded them.

"Fenris, I would get whatever weapons you have ready.." he said to his friend. He turned to Raven and Nation. "I want both of you out of here, we will hold off whatever it is -- and if it does go after you instead of us.. Dark Nation will hold it off until you get out of the tunnel. Either one of us or her will catch up to you and show you the way to my house." He said to Raven. Kneeling down he laid a hand on Nation's head.

"You know what to do girl. Protect her like you would me.. ok?" He watched her as she seemed to nod at him. She licked his face and turned to the chocobo. Rufus stood up and watched as Raven and Nation left. Just as they left something big and menacing came out of the shadows and attacked both him and Fenris. Rufus brought his Rifle up and yelled over to Fenris. "Watch out here it comes." He then fired a shot at the creature. It roared and swung at him. Rufus leapt back then smiled at Fenris slightly. "Shall we show it who's the boss around here?" he asked.

Ferris laughed and shifted his stance. "Why not?" His magic would be fairly useless in such close quarters but that shouldn't be a problem. With a yell, Ferris charged the monster, dodging the sweeping claws as his sword carved deep furrows into the creatures hide. The stench of its ichor made his eyes water, nearly blinding him to the monster's next attack.

"No you don't!" His sword flashed out again as he leaped away and the creature roared in agonized fury as it lifted the bleeding stump into the air. Ferris's mocking laughter turned into a groan of disgust as a jet of dark fluid splattered him, gods the beast stank!! Coughing, he cast a pained look at Rufus while he backed away from the enraged creature. "Didn't do much good, its got hide like armor." he laughed suddenly. "but at least I managed to piss it off."

****

Riya and the little Ku crept silently down a darkened hallway. Judging by the silence, none of the others had been discovered. "So far, so good." She sighed as she passed by another empty cell. "Well, that's that." She gazed down at her companion. "Shall we try another wing or find the others?" So far, she'd passed three occupied cells but the prisoners had been old men, she'd left them with the keys taken from their guard and continued to search. "This is a waste of time, I think we should get out of here." She heard the distant sound of footsteps running towards her and she faded back into the deep shadows of a doorway. I can't be discovered, it could endanger the others. With a frown, she silently drew her sword and waited.

Kuku looked up at Riya's action, and rolled into a tight ball beside her. She then sensed something, a familiar stench. Ignoring the footsteps, now getting louder and louder as they approached, Kuku pranced off clumsily, like a small child who had misplaced their footing. She crouched down and began sniffing along the side of the large stone hallway, coming to a halt upon reaching the source of the scent. Whining and cooing, Kuku managed to squeeze through the bars of a cell, only to playfully head butt her long lost friend, Anaimone.

Anaimone had been lying on her back, deep in thought, and shifted her weight up onto her elbow to snag Kuku with her other arm and hug the little Ku happily. She looked at Kuku, as if to say keep it down, and slowly moved over towards the bars to see who had brought the Ku to such a place, she couldn't have done it on her own. Maybe it would be a chance for escape, if they were allies, that is.

****

Raven saw the large mansion come into view in front of her. Dark Nation sped up a little and pushed open the heavy gate. Raven smiled at how well trained the animal was. The Siydi stopped inside and Raven slid off it's back dropping down onto the stone steps. She crossed her arms and winced at the sudden pain in her lungs. She had not wanted to leave Rufus and Fenris but she didn't have much choice. As a mercenary she knew that the wounded would only cause a hindrance and not be of any real help. She sighed heavily, her green eyes glistening with unshed tears as she looked in the direction where the tunnel lie. She would wait there until she seen them come over the hill. She would not rest until she knew they were safe.

As Raven waited on the stone steps in the back of the mansion Siydi pecked around in the field in front of her and Dark Nation lay by her side protectively. Raven looked down at Dark Nation whose head rose suddenly. Her gaze was fixed on a patch of tall grass near the wall. A tiny movement caught Raven's eye and she rose to investigate. Dark Nation hurried in front of her, as if she wanted to check first for danger. She stuck her head in the grass after checking the scent and finding that it was safe then she looked up at Raven.

Raven knelt and peered into the grass. A small smile crossed her face when her eyes fell upon a small red animal. It had the appearance of a lion and had to be a baby. She bent down and picked it up. It made a barking sound at her and Raven laughed in delight. Never had she seen such a creature and had no idea where its mother could be. She gathered it in her arms and rose to her feet. She had decided. She would take care of the small animal. "I think I'll call you Luca." she smiled happily.

****

Kidd walked along with Silvara, she had broke the bars on the cell to save him. He was so happy he wasn't in the cell. "Wait! Choco......the officers shipped him off to the chocobo ranch....." He looked at Silvara she was walking pretty fast. Kidd looked at her again. "Ummmm, how can I get Choco back? And can you walk a little slower?"

Silvara immediately shortened her stride and grinned down at him. "Sorry about that. Kidd? Is that it?" He nodded. "Don't worry about your chocobo, we'll get him back." The boy shot her a mutinous glance causing her to sigh deeply in exasperation as she stopped and faced him. "I'm not just brushing you off. On my word, even if I have to track him across the continent, we'll get him back. For now, we've got bigger problems." She smiled as he brightened and started down the corridor again, walking slower so he could keep up.

A faint noise drew her attention and she pulled the boy with her into the shadows of a doorway, her hand slipping over his mouth. He glared up at her and she winked, lifting a glistening claw to her pursed lips as she nodded down the hallway. He returned the wink and Silvara grinned in approval before she turned and darted across corridor, her practiced stride making impossibly faint sounds as her feet struck the ground. She felt a slight change as she neared a junction of another hallway and tensed in anticipation. 'There' spinning around the corner, Silvara managed to duck the whistling glimmer of a sword's path and dropped to the ground, lashing out with he foot.

The sweeping kick should have sent her opponent crashing to the ground, but there was no one there for it to connect with. She felt a rush of air against her side and whirled to catch the blade between the mythril talons, using them to deflect the blow. Undeterred, her opponent used the opportunity to attack with a dagger long enough to be considered a sword in it's own right and Silvara felt the tip press to her ribs, angled upward to slide through and find the heart just as a voice whispered. "Tag. you're it."

Riya smiled down at her friend. "Well I guess.. what?" she followed her friend's pointed glance to where the poisoned tips of Silvara's claws were pressed against the leather of her vest. With a frown, Riya sheathed her weapons and helped Silvara to her feet. "So it was a tie. You know, I thought it was a guard until everything got so quiet. You should watch that Silvy, sometimes the absence of sound could be more suspicious than..." Silvara muttered something and Riya laughed. "I'm fairly sure that would be physically impossible, where's your friend? I heard two sets of footsteps, did you manage to recruit a prisoner?"

Silvara frowned in disgust. "Hardly, every one is too afraid, they'd rather be prisoners than fight, cowards. I did manage to find someone though." She stepped back into the other hallway and made a beckoning motion. In a moment a young boy ducked around the corner. Silvara put a hand on his shoulder. "Riya this is Kidd, he came with us to Junon, but got separated and wound up here."

Riya rolled her eyes at the idea of a child being a mercenary but decided not to press the issue right now. "Well, you had better luck than us. This was a waste of time, we should get out of here before..." Riya glanced down, noticing that the Ku had disappeared. "Silvy you didn't see where she went, did you?" She didn't wait for her friends reply but moved down the hallway glancing into the last few cells that she hadn't checked.

Her eyes widened as she glanced into the last cell and saw a woman standing near the bars, watching her with wary eyes. Instinctively her hand flew to the hilt of her sword as she saw the Ku at the back of the cell, but she chuckled and relaxed when she saw it's ridiculously happy expression. "I'm Riya." she broke out the keys she'd lifted from an unconscious guard and grinned at the girl. "Just give me a second."

Anaimone looked down watching Riya fiddle with keys, fitting them each into the lock of her cell. She didn't know much English just yet, having growing up in the middle of the grasslands with a few Ku, but she tried. "My name is Anaimone." She looked at Kuku who had been prancing around her feet. "She is named Kuku." Anaimone smiled at herself...English, what an easy language. As the door creaked open, Anaimone slipped out, with Kuku close behind. Obviously the Ku had met Riya before, but now was no time for explanations.

Anaimone bent down and scooped Kuku up in her arms, allowing the Ku to climb over her shoulder, and cling to her back. Smiling at Riya, Anaimone was more than happy to ask; "I will come too?" She scrunched her nose...'That didn't sound right...I'm sure she understood though, I'd be glad to repay her in any way possible since she took care of Kuku and set me free.' She looked at Riya with questioning eyes.

***

Rufus was watching both Fenris and the monster when he heard something faintly over the sound of the monster's roars. He thought for a second, then grabbed Ferris's arm to pull him down beside him on the floor of the tunnel. Just as they both hit it, a ball of electric fire roared overhead to hit the monster in the chest. It roared in pain, and the sound he had heard earlier was repeated.

" NEO TURK LIGHT!"

After this another ball of electric flame consumed the monster. It fell down face first, burnt to a crisp. Rufus picked himself up, helping Fenris help as well. He looked behind Fenris to see three people walking up the tunnel. The leader was Reno, who had his Nightstick out and was followed by Rude and Elena. He nodded at them, thanking Reno for the help silently. Then Rufus turned to look at Fenris. "I know I owe you an answer for why I did that. I barely heard the shout and there was no time to warn you so.. you get the idea." Looking up at the exit of the tunnel. He said to Fenris and the Turks. "Well, we better get out of here before we find out if this thing had any friends, also we need to get back to Raven." Finished he shouldered his rifle and started walking towards the exit of the tunnel.

Ferris just shook his head and grinned as he walked alongside Rufus his voice rich with amused sarcasm. "No, next time I'd prefer to be killed rather than thrown to the ground, death would be much more dignified." He cast a quick glance at the Turks, his eyes lingering on Elena for a moment before nodding his thanks to them. As he used his stained cloak to wipe the blood from his sword, frowning at the tattered garment before throwing it aside. The rest of his clothing was bloodstained as well but they'd have to wait until he reached the mansion.

*

As Raven sat and held Luca to her chest she finally decided to explore the mansion. She pushed open the large door and stepped inside. She smiled when she entered the first room and seen a couple boxes of rifle shells scattered on the table. A few were empty and one was half full with the shells scattered over the table. He had been in a hurry. She sighed and stepped up the stairs. The mansion was well kept and beautiful. Never before had she even stepped foot in such a luxurious house. She peeked into the master bedroom and then walked inside. Rufus kept his room very neat and organized, Raven couldn't help but smile.

"Oh god is that me?" she exclaimed when she caught her appearance in the mirror. Her hair was tangled and sticking up in places and her smooth face was smudged with dirt. Her eye caught and open door and she decided that if she didn't want to greet Rufus looking and smelling like she had just rolled in a chocobo stall she would have to take a shower. Putting down the moomba, she went inside the bathroom and shut the door. A half an hour later she came back out wrapped in a towel, patting her waist length hair dry. The moomba looked up at her innocently and made a small purring sound as it flipped on its back.

"All of my spare clothes are in the Storm wind." she sighed. "I hope Rufus doesn't mind if I borrow some of his. Mine are torn and covered in dirt and blood." She pulled open the first drawer she seen and grabbed the only pair of black pants she could find. She found them to be much to big when she put them on so she used her own belt to pull the waist tight and rolled up the legs. She found a black shirt and pulled that on too. With a little washing her knee high boots were clean enough to put on. She pulled the pant legs over the boots, brushed out her hair, scooped up the moomba and raced down the stairs and out the door. When she reached gate she looked over the horizon where the sun was setting and seen the dark figures moving towards the mansion. She smiled to herself. They made it!!

****

Kidd walked along with Silvara and Riya, he could tell they wanted something so he asked "Why were you in the jail anyway? Did you know I was in here?" He looked up he was so sad that he lost Choco. He waited for an answer he looked at the ground and kept walking.

****

Rufus looked up at the mansion that seemed to dominate the place. He turned to look back at Fenris. "This is the first time you've seen my Junon mansion, I know you've been to my place in Coastal Del Sol. What do you think?" He smiled slightly as he turned back to face his home again. As he looked it over he saw someone in one of the windows. Not turning he told the four behind him. "It looks like Raven made

it here, unless that was one of the other mercenaries." He walked into the gate, and whistled.

A dark sleek form raced out of the mansion and towards him. He knelt and gave her a quick hug and then stood back up. Walking to the doors, he turned to face Fenris and the Turks. "Well, Fenris. Would you like a drink or a shower first? " He asked smiling slightly at his friend.

Raven smiled as she stepped out of the shadows and ran to give Rufus a hug. She was so glad that he was safe. Luca hissed and squirmed out from in between them and slid under Raven's hair to hide. Rufus gave the little red animal a strange look as it peeked its nose out to look at him.

" Dark Nation found him." Raven smiled. Rufus glanced at Raven's attire as she began to pull from his embrace and smiled before he could stop himself. Raven's face turned red and she looked at her feet quickly.

Rufus looked at her the smile still on his face as he watched her stare at the floor. He laughed softly and lifted her chin so she was looking at him again. "It's ok.. I don't mind you wearing them. I'm surprised you got them to fit." He looked at the little creature again. "Can you tell me what that thing is though? Where did she find him?" He asked her still looking at it.

Ferris chuckled at Raven's attire. 'One of those women who look great in anything, but then again, it seems that Rufus has prior claim.' With a small shrug, he stepped forward to look at the squirming ball of fluff in her arms and grimaced as his boots squelched. Evidently, a fair amount of the creature's blood had managed to trickle down into his dragon scale boots and he sighed, those were his favorite pair!

At their amused glances, he chuckled and gazed at the mansion. "To shower or drink, ahh the eternal question. This time though, the shower comes first!" He nodded at Rufus in approval. "Beautiful, but then you always did have excellent taste." Turning towards the impressive structure. he called over his shoulder as he walked inside. "The house is nice too."

****

As the small group made their way through the prison, Riya glanced at Anaimone and the little Ku clinging to her back, a worried frown marring her face. After Silvara had briefly explained their mission, the young woman had pledged to join them, but did she understand exactly what she could be getting into? Motioning to Anaimone to let Silvara and Kidd pull ahead, she walked beside the young woman pitching her voice low enough that the others wouldn't hear. "Anaimone, I'm not sure you realize just how dangerous this is. " Riya reached out and stroked Kuku's head as she peeped around Anaimone's shoulders. "I'd hate for you and your little friend to get hurt because you feel a need to repay me for your release." She sighed at the woman's expression. "At least wait until we're out of here to decide..."

Silvara's voice floated back to her through the corridor. "Riyathena, if you wouldn't mind, stop trying to dissuade her! We need all the help we can get!" Riya shot her friend's back an irritated frown before turning back to Anaimone. "We can talk about it once we reach my home in the city."

Silvara glared back as Riya's last remark reached her, but then looked down at the melancholy boy at her side. With a small smile, she laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Hey, cheer up. I said I'd help you get your friend back." she glanced into another empty cell before continuing. "Well we didn't exactly know you were here, we just came to recruit some prisoners." She chuckled darkly. "A hostage bargaining situation if you will." she sighed with annoyance. "but it seems we're just wasting time." She turned and looked at the others. "This is a waste. Who knows what they're doing to Raven while we putter around here in the dark! We're leaving."

Riya glanced at her curiously. "What about the others?"

Silvara frowned, was Clyde still inside the jail or had he and the others returned to Riya's house? Her expression hardened. "We're leaving."

Kidd looked up at the strange creature on Anaimone's back it looked very odd it wasn't a chocobo or a moogle or any other creature he had seen before. He was still worried about Choco, but he couldn't help asking "What's that creature on your back?" he asked Riya. He waited for an answer when he realized Riya and Silvara were talking, but the creature was staring at him. 'What the hell is it? its kinda cute.'

Kidd decided to ask again later, when they weren't talking

Anaimone's face slightly twisted as she thought through the events that had been explained to her. "What more trouble could I possibly get into?" Her eyes brightened, and she smiled at the others. "Trouble is better than jail!" Sticking her tongue out, and rubbing Kuku's head playfully, she said. "And I stick to my words. So I stick to you!" To answer the curious boy's question, Anaimone reached over her head and pulled Kuku down by the shoulders, passing her to him. "Here, hold Kuku." She laughed as he held the cat-like Ku uneasily in his arms. "She is Ku. Very few of animal...I protect Ku." She smiled.

Riya laughed as Kidd held the squirming Kuku and then turned back to Anaimone. "What do you mean you protect the Ku?" The woman's answer was cut short as a guard came barreling through, passing by Silvara before coming to a screeching halt in front of the other party members. Whether it had been her dark clothing and hair in the dim lighting, or the guard's inexperienced hast, the bounty hunter wasted no time silencing him. He must have sensed her movement, because he turned to face her just as she reached him and, with a grin, she brought her knee up into his groin.

When he fell to his knees with a tortured groan, Silvara pressed her attack, bringing both fists crashing down onto the base of his skull. Silvara nodded with grim satisfaction as he crumpled at her feet and then called for them to hurry up. As Riya stepped over his body, she felt a grim pride in her friend's skills, but she couldn't help worrying about Silvara...it just wasn't like her to be so vicious. Anaimone shot her a concerned glance and Riya forced herself to smile reassuringly. "It's nothing, I'll just be glad to get out of here."

*

The others, were having a harder time getting out of the mess that they had gotten into going through the cells on the other side of the prison. Sid sliced through the guards blocking the hall in front of them while Izlude and the six mercenaries that had went with them held off the other guards attacking their rear. "Damn.. they're not letting up.. " he muttered as his short spear slid out of another guard's chest.

Clyde looked up and then saw a square of light ahead. "I think I see an exit up ahead."

"Good. Sid, help clear the path to that exit. We're almost out of here guys." Izlude yelled from behind. "Damn that was close." he swore as his sword blocked another that had been aimed for his chest.

Sid continued to clear a path and then moved to the side. "Go on Clyde, get out there and tell us if its clear or not." Clyde nodded and hurried out into the sunlight only to stop and cling to the sides of the building as the exit fell off like a cliff face into the ocean. 'Oh.. man.. that was close.' He was about to tell them to stay back that it was a dead end, when four men fell out of the door beside him, only unlike him they had no chance to catch on to the side and stand on the small ledge that seemed to travel both ways away from the exit. The two mercenaries and guards fell towards the water and fell with a hard splash.

He was recovering from that brief scare when three more men fell out of the exit. Two more mercenaries fell with another guard to their death into the ocean below. 'Damn.. oh man.. I have to say something now.. how many are left.. two, two.. there was six... eight counting Sid and Izlude.. I have to warn them..' He slid slowly towards the exit and took a breath to call warning when four more figures tumbled out of the exit almost pulling him after them.

He windmilled for a second before catching hold of the side again and getting his breath back. 'Gods that was TOO close for comfort..' He tried to think of who had fallen and relaxed slightly when he realized it hadn't been either Sid or Izlude.. but the remaining two mercenaries and more guards. He leaned back against the side and called out. "Don't go this way guys, it's a drop off --dead end --in more ways than one.. turn back.."

As the last words escaped his lips he saw the flash of a spear and a dirty blonde head flashed briefly in the exit before disappearing again back inside. Then three guards tumbled out of the opening, dragging the cursing pilot down with them, but fortunately the spear caught on a strut on the way down and jerked him away from them as well as halting his fall. Clyde let out a relieved breath and then glanced back at the exit silently debating.

After nothing else fell from the exit after a couple minutes he began climb down the struts towards Sid. As he reached the one above the pilot he wrapped his legs around the beam he was sitting on as far as they could go before leaning over to get the pilots attention. "Sid! Grab my hands."

Sid looked up and then shifted his grip on the spear lodged in the beams to stretch one hand towards him. He grabbed onto it and pulled up. Sid released the spear and grabbed a hold on the strut beside him, standing up carefully on the beam that joined into it. "Thanks Clyde, I owe ya one." he said as he slowly and very carefully bent down to retrieve the spear now below him. After he straightened up, short spear in hand, he sighed and glanced up towards the exit he had fallen from. "Damn, it looks like its either back up, or swim.."

Clyde glanced down at the gray waters below them, then back up as well. "I'm better at climbing, than swimming.. Where's Izlude?"

Sid pulled himself up to the beam Clyde was sitting on and slung the spear over his shoulder before answering. "Well, we heard your warning, but before we could heed it we were rushed again by those damned guards.. Izlude managed to flatten himself to the side of the wall, but those bastards took me out with them.." The blonde pilot shook his head and then looked back up at the opening in the wall above them. "Damn I need a drink, this turned out badly--everyone of the prisoners was chicken-shit and then we had to go and lose six men trying to get ourselves out. I don't even want to think about climbing up this damned thing and fighting those cursed guards again."

Clyde nodded silently as he slowly unwrapped himself from around the beam and stood up on it. "Well, I think I'll get started up, as I said I climb better than I swim.. plus Izlude might need help up there." He grabbed onto the beam above his head and pulled himself up, only half hearing the sudden burst of cursing below him as he climbed higher.