Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Seduction of the Darkness ❯ Chapter 16: Peace At Last ( Chapter 16 )

Chapter 16: Peace At Last.

 

Hellfire gazed out at the beautiful day as she helped Cloud and Cid pack her things into the transport. It had been a week since Halanitum had been destroyed, and Hellfire was feeling invigorated and lively. AVALANCHE had found her unconscious in the base ruins, but Vincent had disappeared. They'd taken her back to the ship where she was revived and she'd just rested for the week, recovering her strength from the battle. Cid packed the last of her stuff into the transport and turned to Hellfire.

 

`You're sure you don't want to stay a little longer, Hellfire?' he asked. `We could use the extra help.'

 

Hellfire smiled and shook her head. `I wish I could, but considering I've adjusted to this place, I might as well get to know my new home.'

 

`Well, you let us know as soon as you get to Edge,' said Tifa. `We could use a little help with work.'

 

Hellfire smiled. `I'd like that.' She turned to the team she'd come to cherish every moment with and sighed.

 

`Well, I guess if we're going to do this, we might as well do it properly,' she said. She hugged Tifa and Yuffi who hugged her back. Cloud gave her a one armed hug while Red XII licked her hand. She kissed Cait Sith on the head before Cid clapped her on the back. Reeve hugged her like a father would hug his daughter before Barret swept her up in a huge bear hug. Then she turned to everyone and smiled.

 

`Oh, wait, almost forgot.' Cid pulled out a thin red silk ribbon and walked up to her. Hellfire looked at the ribbon glancing to him.

 

`It's a symbol to us,' he explained, tying it snugly round her arm. `You're a member of AVALANCHE now, and that means you're family. If you ever run into trouble, don't hesitate to ask. Call us and we'll come.'

 

Hellfire was touched by this and beamed. `Thank you. This would be perfect if I knew where Vincent was.'

 

Yuffi growled in frustration. `He ain't gonna make it easy, is he? Where the hell would he have gone?'

 

Cloud smiled. `I think I know.'

~*~

Vincent looked up at Lucretia as she lay encased in crystal. He always came here after a battle or when he was in the area. He loved Lucretia and loved her still, and even though he couldn't touch her, he could take comfort in the fact that, even after all this time, he could still speak to her. It had been the main reason he kept going in the first place. Now he had another reason to fight and live as he did.

 

`It's going to be all right now,' he said to her. `Halanitum and Chaos have returned to the planet.' He looked at her. `I wish I could stay here like I did before, but I must go. Someone is waiting for me.'

 

He rose to his feet, and gazed at her briefly, for he knew that it would be a long time before he saw her again.

 

`Goodbye, Lucretia,' he said softly. `I will always love you.' He turned and left the cavern, stepping outside into the bright sunlight. He gazed out at the falls, taking in the stunning vista. His lips parted in surprise.

 

A young woman with raven hair and green eyes was standing there, clad in a pale lilac dress that swept the ground. She was staring out at the beautiful landscape, her hair flowing freely down her back. Vincent had wondered if he would ever see her again.

 

Hellfire must have sensed him for she turned to him with a smile as he approached her.

 

`I was told I'd find you here,' she said. `You never make it easy for them to find you, do you?'

 

`I try,' he replied. She laughed softly and he smiled. She looked at him and glanced at her feet.

 

`I hear you're leaving AVALANCHE,' he said.

 

`Only for a while,' she said. `Now that Halanitum's gone, I think it's time I got used to my new home.'

 

`Where will you go?'

 

Hellfire turned to him. `I don't know. Tifa says she needs help with Cloud's business in Edge so maybe I'll go there for a while.' She laid a hand on his face, gazing at him fondly. `You've become very dear to me, Vincent. I don't know what I would have done without you.'

 

Vincent took her hand and met her gaze. `You would have found the strength you have on your own. And found love with someone else.'

 

`Oh, I couldn't think of loving another,' she said. `Not after this.'

 

`Perhaps,' he conceded. He gently brushed her hair away from her face. `Thank you…it was you……you were the reason I…survived.'

 

She cradled his face in her hand and pressed her lips into his mouth in a gentle kiss. He ran his hand through her hair, holding her close and making the moment last. After what seemed like an eternity, she caught her breath and drew away.

 

`Goodbye, Vincent Valentine,' she said softly. “I'll never forget you.' With that, she turned and walked away to the transport that was waiting for her. Vincent watched her go, feeling lighter than he'd ever felt in his life.

 

`I'll find you again, Hellfire,' he said softly to himself. `No matter where you are, I will find you.'