Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Ice ❯ Everyone's Grudge ( Chapter 37 )

`This is a voice in the mind.'

(This is an internal thought.)

 

Chapter 37: Everyone's Grudge

 

“Figures.” Nanaki snorted as they surveyed the area. Not but twenty minutes after leaving their friends, they came upon another impasse.

 

“We are not splitting up further,” Vincent intoned, glaring at the two different paths that stood before them. Why was he so lucky as to get the difficult trail?

 

“I say we take that one on the bottom,” Reeve suggested.

 

“Why?” questioned Nanaki. Both looked the same to him, shadowed and intimidating.

 

The ex-executive shrugged. “A guess?”

 

Aeris sighed and rolled her eyes at the three men. “Let me give it a guess, if that's what we're going to go on.” She moved forward and stood between the two choices as if listening intently.

 

The three men watched her with confused expressions wondering what in the world she was doing.

 

Finally, she nodded as if satisfied. “We should follow with Reeve's advice.”

 

“How do you know that?” the ex-Turk questioned. He was genuinely curious.

 

“The ebb of the life stream is stronger from that one. Obviously that way is much shorter.”

 

Nanaki shrugged. “It works for me.” He tightened the claw on his hand and headed for the doorway. The three friends followed close behind them, Vincent taking the rear guard.

 

Right before he stepped through the tunnel, he heard a squeak and the sound of something rattling. Turning rapidly, his crimson gaze scanned the darkened cavern, but he could detect nothing. Though his ears remained alert, he did not catch the odd noises again. His hand rested comfortably on the handle of the Death Penalty and he kept his eyes open.

 

They emerged into a cool cavern that led steadily downwards. Occasionally they would have to jump down to levels below them but there was no climbing involved, of which each member was grateful for.

 

Most of the monsters in this particular part of the crater were hardly anything worth dealing with. The Gighee didn't stand a chance against repeated assaults of Tornado from Reeve's Wind materia. Nanaki easily handled the Christophers that dared attack their party, and Vincent took out the random Allemanges from afar. Aeris did an excellent job making sure that none of them suffered from too much pain from what few wounds managed to sneak through the skilled fighter's defenses.

 

After making their way through the damp and dark caves the group finally found themselves in a large, more open cavern with a brilliant greenish waterfall that though it looked liked mako, it in fact wasn't.

 

It twisted and turned as it headed downwards into darkness that none of them could pierce. They had been mostly silent, not really willing to carry on a conversation. Most of their hearts were filled with worry, and Vincent knew that they dreaded the battle that was to come.

 

Nanaki had taken the lead, easily jumping down with his agile limbs. Aeris was following along behind him, relying on her staff to keep her balance. It had become more of walking stick than a weapon in the past few days. As Reeve moved to follow them onto the next level of the dark grey stone, Vincent froze in his tracks.

 

He heard that sound again. A shrill whine accompanied by the rattling of something glass and metal. Then the sound of shuffling feet came to his ears. Whirling around, pulling his weapon in one smooth motion, Vincent scanned the area behind him. His crimson eyes widened in surprise.

 

There were three Master Tonberrys behind him, all looking at him with soulless blank eyes, blood dripping from their well-used blades. Apparently the creatures had been trailing the group for some time and were only waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The ex-Turk knew that they were usually silent monsters. They must have PLANNED on being caught.

 

Without thinking, Vincent shot at one of them, using it as a signal to the others. It struck the one on the left but those soulless eyes merely looked at him as if it could feel no pain.

 

“We are under attack!” called out the ex-Turk as if his gunshot was not enough warning.

 

Vincent cursed as he cocked the Death Penalty again, preparing to cast a spell. He racked his brains trying to remember what could be used against a Tonberry. They were vicious, ruthless creatures, who lived only to kill. They loved the sight and smell of blood and would often kill with a single stroke of their well-used blades.

 

He heard the scrabbling of feet and knew that the others had came back to fight with him.

 

The one in the middle, took a step forward, towards the four and raised its knife menacingly, lantern glowing eerily in the dark, cold cave.

 

“Damn!” he heard Reeve curse behind him. Unwilling to take his eyes off of the monsters in front of him, Vincent slowly backed away.

 

“What is it?” he whispered in an urgent voice.

 

“There are two Malboros approaching from behind,” answered Reeve quietly.

 

“They have been planning this,” intoned Nanaki softly. He was standing at Vincent's back. “It is an ambush.”

 

The four friends stood back to back, Reeve and Vincent were facing the Tonberrys, and Nanaki and Aeris were facing the Malboros.

 

“They are weak to fire,” Vincent said softly, speaking to the flower girl and the demi-human. “Aeris, let Nanaki take point and cover him with your magic.”

 

“Of course,” came the short reply. The ex-Turk was satisfied.

 

“Tonberrys have no fear. We cannot frighten them into running,” Reeve muttered, casting a meaningful glance at the gunman.

 

“I will not use my limit break,” Vincent said softly, keeping a careful eye on the monsters. They had yet to move, acting as if surveying before attacking. “Rely on your magic rather than your knives. Physical pain means nothing to these creatures. I will support with Death Penalty as I can do more damage with bullets.”

 

The ex-executive nodded and steeled himself for the battle to come.

 

The short, squat creatures swayed as they stood. This was how they fought, by intimidation. Their speed was unmatched so that by the time they chose to fight, their opponents could not avoid it.

 

Vincent heard the Malboros give a roar behind him and sensed as Nanaki jumped up into the air. He knew that the lion wolf was about to attack. He heard Aeris mumbling words and felt the wash of power that he always associated with the casting of her magic.

 

Before he knew it, Reeve was casting spells, too, and the gunman knew he had to get his mind on the battle.

 

“Comet 2!” summoned the ex-executive. Without preamble, fiery rocks of ice and dust appeared out of nowhere striking at the Tonberrys. They took the hits with no reaction at all, even when one of their own reeled, bleeding from a massive cut in his head.

 

Vincent took careful aim with his shotgun, knocking the lantern out of the hands of the closest creature. He knew that the monsters had limited sight inside light or dark. He hurriedly dug into his pockets and pulled out the Dragon Scales that he had stashed there.

 

“Reeve! Bolt!” hissed the ex-Turk. The amber-eyed man nodded his understanding as Vincent threw the Dragon Scales down at the gathered Tonberrys and watched as water rushed onto them from nowhere, hopefully dulling their senses.

 

There was a crackle of electricity as Reeve cast Bolt 3 on the now soaked Tonberrys, effectively doubling the damage of the magic attack. They writhed under the attack but still made no sounds. It was creepy.

 

The Malboros were no less active. With a great gust of rancid breath, the tentacled creature tried to imbue Aeris and Nanaki with status effects. Nanaki leapt up into the air, avoiding the attack, claw shining in the dim light as he prepared to take down one.

 

Aeris brought her hands together in a prayer and effectively blocked the disgusting attack, wrinkling her nose at the putrid smell.

 

Hurriedly she cast Haste and then Aura at her companion, aiding him in his attack of the Malboro. One of them began to saunter in her direction, as if it thought her an easy target.

 

Nanaki's claws ripped through the slimy hide of the green creature seconds before the second tried to aim a tentacle at the seemingly defenseless flower girl. She drew her lips together in an angry frown as she whipped the staff down on the tentacle and turned it to mush.

 

The Malboro keened with the pain and withdrew. It didn't stand a chance as Aeris reached deep into herself and pulled out the power to cast another spell. “Meltdown!” she cast, aiming at both her assailant and the one Nanaki was facing.

 

And acid like substance dripped out of nowhere, covering the bodies of the Malboros and making them more susceptible to attacks. The greenish beasts moaned with the pain of the acid, and Aeris smirked. That would teach them to think she was an easy target.

 

The smell of burnt flesh permeated the air. One Tonberry laid belly up, knife scattered across the floor. It had taken the brunt of the attack and had gone down without a sound. However, the other two still regarded Vincent and Reeve as if they didn't matter one bit.

 

Reeve was panting slightly from his continuous casting, but he gripped his throwing knife tightly. He wasn't sure if physical attacks would even work on the damn beasts.

 

Vincent was perched on a slightly higher position, hurriedly reloading the Death Penalty even as he aimed and carefully took fire. It struck the left Tonberry dead on but the shot didn't seem to faze the beast as it took another calculated step towards the ex-executive.

 

LET ME OUT, came Chaos' voice dripping with sarcasm. COME ON HUMAN, I WANT TO PLAY WITH THESE CREATURES THAT FEEL NO PAIN.

 

Vincent steadfastly ignored the pounding of the demon inside his mind and searched for another method to defeat the seemingly unstoppable knife-wielding creatures.

 

Suddenly one of them gave a keening cry as it decided to attack. Vincent prepared to jump down and knock Reeve aside but it wasn't aiming for the amber-eyed man. The ex-Turk had only seconds to react before the Tonberry hurled itself at him, blood-stained knife calling for his death.

 

“Everyone's Grudge!” hissed the Tonberry in a hoarse yet keening voice.

 

He dove off of the rock he was crouched on and just barely avoided the homicidal monster. Yet, the Tonberry wasn't done with him yet. With a crazed look in its soulless eyes, the creature grinned feral and jumped down, lantern swinging. It had plans to hunt the ex-Turk down.

 

Vincent scrambled to his feet and started to run, hurriedly aiming a shot at the Tonberry that was doggedly following him. A bullet struck the creature in the shoulder. It jerked, signifying it had been hit, but did not stop as green ichor dripped from the wound.

 

Reeve flipped a dagger expertly in his hands and tossed it at the remaining Tonberry. It struck the creature directly between the eyes and Reeve grinned in triumph, expecting the monster to go down. He frowned and his eyes widened as the Tonberry reached up and idly pulled the blade out tossing it to the ground, its eyes just as blank as before. The ex-executive gulped and racked his brain for a magic he hadn't yet used.

 

The left Malboro roared as Nanaki slashed through its slimy skin, spilling purplish ooze everywhere. His limit break Blood Fist burst through the flesh of the Malboro, seemingly coming out of the other side and dealing major damage.

 

It tried to restrain the demi-human, but the red-head was far too quick for the monster's many tentacles. He aimed for an eye and managed to blind the creature seconds before he felt the attack of the Frozen Beam.

 

The right Malboro opened its mouth and released a beam of pure frozen water on the nimble demi-human, hoping to freeze him into submission. It struck him in the left leg, instantly turning the limb into a heavy block of ice. Nanaki crashed to the floor, unable to move his leg.

 

There was a tingle of magic in the air as Aeris cast a spell. Flare burst over the attacking Malboro and it screamed in agony. Nanaki hurriedly cast a small fire over his leg, trying to melt the ice. Flames raced over the smooth flesh of the monster, and it struggled to put it out.

 

The second Malboro lumbered in his direction, sensing an easy target. Nanaki growled in anger, and pulled off one of the beads in his hair. It was actually a Fire Fang but that monster didn't know any better. He chucked it at the creature and couldn't help the smirk of satisfaction when it struck and burst into flame, setting afire to the monster's tentacles.

 

Finally, the ice was melting and a pool was forming beneath the demi-human. He forced himself to his feet, wobbling a bit on the still slightly frozen limb. The first Malboro regained control of itself, the blood bubbling up helping to subdue the flames. It ran at Nanaki angrily, screaming in a garbled tone that was completely unintelligible. The red-haired man stood in place, awaiting the monster's attack and easily slicing its thin skin with his razor sharp claws. It seemed almost too easy.

 

The second Malboro turned to Aeris, still on fire, but furious and ready to kill. It shot its tentacles at her; one right after the other, not caring for the pain it was being inflicted. She fought them off with her staff but one slipped through her defenses. She screamed as she was thrown backwards to the ground, the tentacle having slammed into her chest.

 

Coughing weakly, Aeris struggled to her feet. It felt as if her chest was on fire and she knew it would bruise.

 

`Call for me… I will help you,' came a voice in her mind.

 

The Ancient was used to hearing voices and wasn't at all surprised. Yet, this one was unknown to her, although strangely familiar. “I can't,” she spoke aloud, gasping as she leaned heavily on the Princess Guard. It was difficult to breathe.

 

`Summon me, my Aeris. I am alike to you.'

 

She shook her head as the Malboro trained its eye on her, sensing revenge as being close. “I haven't the strength.” She searched her body for enough energy to cast a Cure or even summon her limit break.

 

`You needn't the strength,' assured the voice that was both benevolent and soothing. `Just the will. Call for me.'

 

“I know not your name…”

 

There was a great roar, and Aeris watched as Nanaki was unable to move to avoid an attack, his leg still slightly frozen. He was enveloped by a cloud of Bad Breath. The demi-human was not equipped for status effect protection but with a Champion Belt which raised his strength and power. Within seconds Nanaki had been slammed into by two tentacles and thrown against a close wall. His body fell to the ground and writhed as poison, silence, and darkness took over his body. She could hear him moaning as he tried to fight off the status effects.

 

`You do, child. You have known it all along. I have been here always… whispering to you in the night when you feared and giving you strength when you had none.'

 

Aeris' jade eyes widened with the realization. “Hephaestion…” she whispered in almost disbelief.

 

Immediately the ground began to quake and collapse, leaving a jagged chasm in front of the two attacking Malboros. The creatures looked around in confusion, not exactly the brightest of monsters. From the depths of the crack, the mechanical Alexander rose, spraying steam from its joints. It leaned forward to gaze at the green-skinned creatures, anger almost evident in its glowing bluish eyes. The summon supported his weight on his arms and narrowed his luminescent eyes on the Malboros. The creatures began to quake with fear as Aeris watched on with surprised eyes.

 

Two thin blue lasers traced a quick flourish over the ground beneath the monsters. It erupted in a great explosion, pelting the creatures with thick heavy stone before having them fall into the depths of the chasm it had created. The Malboros were no more.

 

Aeris ignored the pain in her chest and tried to run to Nanaki's side, managing to collapse just next to his writhing body. She searched through her pack with shaking hands for an antidote or remedy or something.

 

`I will heal you and him both. Worry not, my Aeris,' came the soft and soothing voice again.

 

Aeris looked up in surprise to see an older man standing above her, and Nanaki. He wore robes of brown that covered him from head to toe. His face was wizened and his hair grey, especially the long beard that sprouted elegantly from his chin.

 

The mysterious man knelt down next to the flower girl and the demi-human. He closed his eyes and placed a hand on each of their foreheads. Aeris felt a cooling wind rush through her body as the pain in her chest and ribs abated. She could see Nanaki stop moaning and thrashing in pain and instead becoming calmer.

 

“Hephaestion…” she said softly again, finding that the man had opened his eyes. She looked into those ice blue orbs and felt as if she had dared a glance into eternity. Aeris shivered unintentionally.

 

“Soon,” said the man aloud, answering her unasked question. “You will know why I have contacted you this day.” He stood up quickly and turned from her though she wasn't sure where he was going.

 

Nanaki moaned and she glanced down at him, to see the demi-human opening his eyes and trying to sit up. He seemed very healthy, as if he hadn't been fighting at all. Aeris looked up to thank the older man but found that both he and Alexander were gone.

 

Vincent gasped as he tripped on a stone, cursing his bad luck when he tumbled to the ground on his behind. The Tonberry caught the clumsy movement and moved in for the kill. He rushed the fallen ex-Turk, but Vincent twisted out of the way just in time and caught the blood-stained knife on his arm. The rusted blade ripped through his shirt and cut a long deep gash into his arm from forearm to shoulder.

 

Trying to ignore the burning pain in his arm, the gunman swung the barrel of the Death Penalty up and knocked the Tonberry away from him before it even got a chance to strike again. He knew that the blade had to have been poisoned in some way and wondered what foul concoction now coursed through his veins.

 

The small soulless creature tumbled away with the force of his strike, body turning head over heels across the rocky ground. The ex-Turk didn't spare it a glance as he pushed himself to his feet, cursing as he examined the wound in his arm. Already the faint edges of the wound were beginning to heal but that didn't stop the blood from coursing out and down his arm in rivulets. For some reason, he took that as a strange foreboding.

 

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Vincent cocked the Death Penalty and searched for the enemy. It hadn't gone far and was already picking itself up off the ground. The lantern had shattered into many pieces but the knife had never left the Tonberry's grip.

 

“I'm calling Bahamut,” Reeve yelled, letting the ex-Turk know of his intentions.

 

Vincent agreed and rushed at the monster, hoping it didn't attack him first. He had no such luck. The creature brought down its knife again with the intent to strike him. The gunman blocked the blade swiftly with his clawed hand and kicked viciously at the smaller creature. He winced at the screeching of metal as the blade and the claw fought for dominance.

 

The ex-Turk was hoping that from this distance, the shotgun would do more damage than it had before. He carefully balanced the Death Penalty in his one hand and aimed it at the Tonberry. He felt no remorse as he shot the creature point-blank.

 

The gunman stumbled backwards as the power opposing his claw disappeared. The monster had flown away with the force of the shot, head snapping painfully. The ex-Turk felt his head swim for a moment and his eyes blur as he struggled to regain his balance. He cursed his bad luck when he realized that the monster's blade had been coated with Deadly Waste. Normally that type of thing wouldn't have affected him so, but he wasted much concentration on ensuring that his limit break would not overcome him.

 

“Mega Flare!” Vincent could make out Reeve summoning the great dragon beast Bahamut. He slumped to the ground as he patted his pockets dully, trying to find the Antidote Cid had pressed into his hand when they had all separated earlier. It seemed like so long ago.

 

A thunderstorm appeared out of nowhere within the belowground crater. It illuminated a patch of cloud in a darkened sky. The air swirled and distorted, forming a funnel which pointed up into the atmosphere.

Bahamut spiraled down from above, wrapped in its wings and headed by a thick re-entry cone of compressed air. Coming to a halt, the dragon let out a roar and surveyed the battlefield. Its calm golden eyes took note of the slumped gunman and the one who had called him, Reeve.

 

It narrowed when it caught the Tonberrys, two creatures that it loathed intently. A bright pink flare attack formed just in front of his mouth, growing as it gathered energy before launching itself as an over bright comet with a blue tail. It struck the Tonberry that was assaulting Reeve in a cluster of explosion that obliterated the creature completely.

 

Vincent allowed a slim smile to grace his face when he finally felt his fingers slide over the smooth bottle of the antidote. He grasped the vial and pulled out the stopper, immediately upending the bottle and pouring the clear liquid into his mouth. An instant soothing and warming sensation tingled across his tongue and down his throat as the antidote did its job. He sat back and waited for the medicine to spread throughout his entire body.

 

The golden gaze of the Bahamut settled on the last Tonberry, who eyed the dragon completely unafraid. The arrogance of the monster angered the great serpent. Gold slitted eyes flashed as the summon bared its teeth and hissed at the knife-wielding monster. It flapped its wings fiercely and rose into the air, diving down at the dark-eyed creature.

 

The Tonberry did not flinch, its eyes completely expressionless. There was a gaping hole in the side of its head, a testament to Vincent's attack. Yet, these monsters felt no pain and kept going as long as they could draw breath. As the serpent drew nearer, Reeve caught the slight change in its stillness and knew it was about to attack Bahamut with its knife.

 

A shot rang through the air and struck the Tonberry. It was perfect as it blew the knife from the creature's hands seconds before the great maw of the beast closed around the monster.

 

Long sharp fangs clomped down and the Tonberry disappeared down the mouth of Bahamut, just a minor snack compared to what the great serpent was used to. Reeve wasn't sure if he even had the energy to cheer their victory.

 

Bahamut swallowed then turned its golden gaze onto Reeve. He leveled his head and locked eyes with the amber-eyed man. The ex-executive immediately froze, feeling trapped within the gaze of a being that had lived for centuries more than he had. Historians weren't even sure if most summons were even from their planet.

 

`Learn who I am, manling,' came a deep and ancient voice inside Reeve's head. He started at the unexpected sound. `Learn of the past and perhaps then you will find what you seek.'

 

The ex-executive didn't recognize the voice, but he knew without a doubt that it was the ancient serpent that had spoken to him. He nodded slowly, not trusting his tongue to speak truly.

 

Lightning sparked out of nowhere at Reeve's acknowledgment of Bahamut. The serpent ducked its head slightly before flying upwards into a massive collection of clouds and disappearing.

 

The four friends slowly gathered back together, all of them strained by the intense battle.

 

“Do you think Sephiroth has gained control of the beasts around here?” asked Nanaki quietly.

 

Aeris shook her head. “Impossible. I don't know what possessed them to attack in such large groups but there is no possibility that the General has somehow gained the ability to control the monsters.”

 

“How is your wound?” asked Reeve turning to the ex-Turk.

 

Vincent looked up from where he had been frowning at the torn fabric and flashed him a small but comforting smile as he shrugged. “It is all but healed. The biggest threat was the poison.”

 

“I thought poison didn't have an effect on you?” asked Nanaki curiously.

 

Vincent frowned and turned away. “There are circumstances, which has made that a possibility now.” He sighed then changed the subject. “Either way, we have to get moving, we can't sit around here.”

 

“At least let me take a look at the wound,” urged the flower girl.

 

The ex-Turk sighed and decided to humor her. He rolled up the sleeve of his shirt, noting with disgust that it was caked with his blood and proved that indeed it had mostly sealed.

 

Aeris moved forwards anyways, taking the arm in hand and analyzing the flesh as if she were intent on healing a disastrous wound. “The poison is at least completely gone,” she noted before smiling up at him.

 

“I could have told you that,” he remarked, slipping back into his old shell. The moment the words left his lips, he felt a shiver of guilt run through his body. Aeris had not deserved his bitter tongue.

 

The flower girl was unfazed by his rather rude answer and stood up, offering him a hand. He took it and cast an apologetic look.

 

“You know, Reeve,” began Nanaki. “How is that you are the only one of us to have not been injured at all?”

 

The ex-executive smirked. “I'm just that good. Damn monsters couldn't get anywhere near me.”

 

The demi-human laughed, flexing his weaponed hand and stretching the leg that had been frozen. “Confident, much?”

 

“Only as much as I need to be,” answered Reeve smoothly. His face darkened suddenly. “I have to be…”

 

Aeris frowned, noticing the somber tone that the man's voice had taken on. She instantly sensed what had changed his expression. “They are fine,” she assured the amber-eyed man.

 

Vincent listened to them talk in silence as he checked over the Death Penalty before putting it back in its holster. His arm still ached slightly and he didn't feel like hauling the weapon for the moment. (Cid… you had better be alright.)

 

“With Cloud waving that freakishly huge sword around and Yuffie picking the monster's pockets, how can they lose?” said Nanaki, grinning largely.

 

Reeve grinned, a sudden thought hitting him. “And if that doesn't work, Cid can always curse them until they go deaf!”

 

The three laughed, glancing slyly at the quiet ex-Turk. They were most surprised when they found yet another rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

 

“Aye,” agreed Vincent as he turned to face them. “Then again, Reno could drive them crazy as well, yo.” He made a vague motion with his hand, attempting to mimic the Turk's nonchalant air. It really didn't go so well, but it was a nice try.

 

Nanaki gripped his friend warmly on the shoulder as the four turned towards the tunnel they had been heading for earlier. “I do think our brash pilot is having an effect on you,” he commented, eyeing the crimson-eyed man. “I dare say that was a joke I heard from your mouth.”

 

It came again… that mysterious half-smile tugging at the corner of the ex-Turk's lips. “I think you would be pleasantly surprised how much I've changed.”

 

Vincent didn't see Reeve and Aeris behind them, exchanging happy glances. He did, however, catch the smirk that appeared on the demi-human's face and couldn't resist the urge to roll his eyes.

 

The red-haired man shrugged his shoulders and stretched, seeming every bit the cat. “Sephiroth… here we come!”

 

* * *