Legend Of Zelda Fan Fiction / Starcraft Fan Fiction / Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Tassadar's Legacy: The Crusades: Sylvanis ❯ Since when are Ancient's English!? ( Chapter 5 )

Tifa and I stayed upstairs like that for a while, her just holding me and me sniffling a little. I was still kinda fighting with myself, part of me wanting to stay exactly as I was and screw everything else… but another part of me was telling me this is wrong. Not only am I being weak, but I hardly know why she's being so nice to me and there's gotta be a catch. No one has ever been so nice to me before. Why would she be nice to me like this just because I'd called her mom in my sleep? Desperate to find an answer, I tried to place myself in her shoes.

What would I do if I had the life she lead, and owned a restaurant/bar, and some kid came in looking lost and confused, and repeatedly came in for food looking like he'd been through a warzone? I suppose I'd feel sorry for the kid and not a little bit curious… then if I saw that same kid being attacked, I would definitely come to his aid, especially after finding out he sleeps behind my dumpster out in the freezing cold, I would clean him and make sure he got better… and considering his circumstances, he probably doesn't have a home or family, and I've got room, and to top it off, the kid is crying in his sleep and feels better when I hold him… and then I find out he'd been calling me Mom in his sleep later… Ok ya, I get it. So it is possible to be that nice without having any ulterior motives. Forgive me for being skeptical since I've never experienced such a thing before in my entire life. And now I'm talking to myself.

Shaking my head and wiping my eyes, I leaned further into Tifa, finally able to lay my mind at peace. Tifa smiled down at me and tousled my hair a bit. I grinned a bit and sighed happily. If this is a dream, I guess I'll make the most of it while it lasts. Least it's not a nightmare anymore. Barrett and Cloud were making a lot of noise downstairs. I guess they're still arguing and making a ruckus and scaring all of Tifa's customer's away. Frowning, I stood up and after helping Tifa stand, I went downstairs, where indeed, some of the patrons were edging their way out after leaving their money on the table, while some were just watching in plain amusement as Cloud and Barrett were in each other's face about something, and Vincent, of all people, was helping wait the tables.

Staring at the scene before my eyes, I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing. Tifa came up behind me chuckling herself and said, “**** ****** *** Cloud. Barrett, ***** ****** *****?” Barrett huffed and said, “***** *** Marlene **** *******.” They continued talking to each other in Japanese and I tuned them out to focus on Vincent, watching him act as a waiter. It was so weird seeing Vincent doing something so… normal. Weirder even than seeing Cloud go slack jawed. I knew he had a cell phone on him too now, thanks to Cloud's insistence. How long has it been since Advent Children? The World Wide Network hadn't been activated, so… less than a year? Two? I forget how long it took for Dirge of Cerberus to take place after Advent Children…

I guess Vincent caught me staring because he suddenly paused in waiting tables, caught Tifa's attention to take over, and came over to me. He stood in front of me with his arms crossed, just looking at me. Talk about unnerving. Is that how I was making him feel? Oops. Well… I scratched the back of my head and looked away and said, “Sorry…” Vincent raised an eyebrow and I started, realizing Tifa hadn't told him what that meant, until he said, “So you can speak in Ancient. Interesting.” I looked up at him slack jawed. Did he just… talk to me in English!? Wait, ANCIENT!?

“You can understand me!?” I asked him incredulously? Vincent nodded. I threw my hands up in the air and said, “Why didn't you say so earlier?” Vincent narrowed his eyes and said, “Because some of the words you use are confusing, and you didn't just come out and say anything. You only said Hojo is alive. And watch your tone with me.” I nodded and said, “Sorry, I'm just so shocked. So Ancient is English here? Weird… but this makes things so much easier.”

It was about that time I noticed everyone in the shop was staring at us. Tifa approached us timidly and asked, “Vincent, **** **** Matthew ****?” Vincent said, “Hai, ***** **** Ancient ****** *****.” Meanwhile, I decided I couldn't feel more weirded out. Vincent turned back to me and said, “Upstairs. I believe we have some things to discuss.” Tifa followed after along with Cloud, while Barrett made a fuss over something and took back over.

Once upstairs I turned around and eyed Vincent and said, “Alright, I guess I'll start with the basics then. My name is Matthew. I'm uh… I'm not from this planet. I'm from a planet named Earth where this place is just a story… a fictional story.” Vincent crossed his arms and said, “You don't understand Gaian. Any person born on this planet knows Gaian. Now tell me why you wanted to talk to me.”

I nodded and took a deep breath and said, “Honestly, I'm not sure I should be saying this. This is your future after all, but if I don't say anything… a lot of people will die.” Vincent nodded and said, “Continue.” So I explained to him about Deep Ground, Hojo being alive and his connection to the World Wide Network, and how he takes over Deep Ground. The next part I faltered on a little and stopped. Vincent waited. I coughed and said, “I'm sorry. I know they can't understand me, but this next part… it might be a good idea if you sent Cloud and Tifa outside.” Vincent still waited, and I said, “The rest is about you, Hojo, and Lucrecia.”

Vincent turned around and said something to Cloud and Tifa and they both left. Vincent turned around again and said, “Explain what Lucrecia has anything to do with this.” So I explained about Lucrecia's theory on Omega and Chaos and the reason she was so sorry for Vincent is because of bearing Sephiroth with Hojo even though she loved Vincent and also because she was the one who turned Vincent into Chaos to save his life. As I explained this, I could visibly see Vincent shaking and hoped against all hope he wouldn't kill me.

“So, right now inside of you, is the proto materia that she placed in you to help control your transformed state. But thankfully-“ Vincent interrupted, “Where inside me is it?” I gave him a look before answering, “It's in your chest cavity.” Vincent nodded as if I just confirmed something he suspected. Before I could continue, he suddenly plunged his hand into his chest and dug around and I tried really hard not to throw up as bits of meat and blood pooled down from the floor as he pulled it out. He stared at it then looked at me and said, “I would not believe you if not for-“ But the rest was drowned out as he suddenly screamed and everything in the room got thrown backwards including me as he started shifting form between himself and Chaos.

Tifa and Cloud busted into the room and were nearly thrown back themselves. Suddenly Vincent collapsed in his Chaos form. Standing unsteadily, I walked over and grabbing the protomateria, I weakly tried to push the much larger demon Chaos over. Tifa leant over and helped, and I stuck the protomateria back into his chest. Suddenly Chaos coughed and opened his eyes wide and stared at me. Tifa made to pull me back, but I resisted and said, “I'm sorry. I probably should have mentioned that while the protomateria is inside you to help you control Chaos, if you take it out your powers go berserk.” Chaos slowly stood up and then reverted back into Vincent, who said, “It would have been a good idea if you mentioned that, yes, but more importantly, I believe you're telling me the truth now.”

I nodded and said, “There's also one more thing.” He paused as he was starting for the door and looked back at me. I continued, “Lucrecia is also sorta not dead. Her personality was uploaded as well as Hojo's. But they're intertwined I think. So… I don't know if you want to try and get her back or not, but if you do, it might release Hojo anyway. Normally, if this had all happened normally, a girl named Shelke would have received Lucrecia's memories and a bit of her personality. She's a good person and a great computer whiz. You and her will get along well. She's also brilliant with computers since she can use a neaural uplink to them. She could help you find Hojo and Lucrecia are located. I would advise on not having her destroy Hojo though. He's powerful and she may not survive. After that… well… actually the rest is really for Cloud to know. Otherwise you'll have to hear all about him before you understand the impact of the next part.”

Vincent nodded and said, “Tell me and I will tell him.” I answered, “Genesis Rhapsodos is alive.” Vincent repeated it to Cloud and his eyes narrowed almost as much as Vincent's. Cloud said something to Vincent and Vincent repeated back, “Where is he?” I shrugged and said, “I don't know. That part was really sketchy. I just know that at the end of your story, it says that Genesis woke up after your battle with Omega and took off into the sky from a cave somewhere.” Vincent repeated what I said, though I'm sure it was abridged, to Cloud. Cloud crossed his arms and said something, Vincent turned back to me and asked, “How is he alive?” I answered simply, “Zack saw some good in him and saved his life. He then got taken in by Shinra and hidden. It was as good a kept secret as Deep Ground was. Only a handful of people knew about either.”

Vincent relayed what I said to Cloud again, and Cloud nodded, then turned around and left the room. Tifa, turned between us and Cloud, then followed Cloud, probably to make sure he was ok and wouldn't do anything stupid. Not like me and Vincent were going to do something stupid too. After all, I did tell him that in order to find Hojo, we'd need to get to Deep Ground. I sighed. Vincent turned to leave, and I followed behind him. He stopped at the door and said, “Stay here.” I crossed my arms, “I never said where Deep Ground is located and I want to talk to Shelke, ok?” Vincent shook his head and said, “Do what you wish. I already discerned the location from what you said. As for following me, do you really believe Tifa will let you go to the old Shinra building?” I bit my lip. He had a point. I don't know if Tifa would willing allow me to endanger myself. I suppose I could sneak out but then what? Tifa would be pissed at me, and facing bullets is a far cry different from facing rats. I'd only slow Vincent down.

 

I looked up at him and said, “Unless there's something you can think of that you would need me for, I'll stay here. Just please try to be diplomatic, and be careful of some of the Tsviets. Shelke is in the Tsviets, and she might attack you, but if you can please don't kill any of them.” Vincent turned around and frowned and said, “You talk as if you know them.” I nodded and said, “On my planet, the story about you guys is more like a video than a book. I've seen you fight them all... so I can give you information on them.” Vincent nodded and said, “If I'm to be diplomatic, your information might be useful.” With that Vincent turned back around and I followed him down the stairs. Once down, Vincent started to the door and I followed him. Tifa watched, but she didn't move to stop me, to my surprise. Maybe it's due to the fact that she had first looked at Vincent and saw the super serious expression there.

 

Once outside, I followed Vincent to the back alley I used to sleep in and he motioned me to come closer. As soon as I had, he grabbed me and wrapped his red cape around me. Suddenly I felt weightless and we were practically flying through the air. Soon we were flying over Midgar and I was completely shocked at how trashed the place is. Even the Shinra building we're headed to is a wreck. Half the building is missing, though I knew that to be from Sephiroth and Cloud fighting. Vincent touched down and asked, “Which way?” I answered, “Down. As far as you can go.” Vincent gave me a `that's it?' look. I shrugged. He turned around and hurried off at a brisk walk.

 

I tried counting the turns we made, but I soon gave up after 100. A couple times we had to find an alternate route, or he would grab me and we would jump down. We were getting into some large deep rooms when he suddenly rounded on me and asked, “Do you know what this place looks like?” I stopped, taken back a little bit, then answered, “Yes. I believe we're getting close. I remember seeing a place like this. As for the door into Deep Ground, it looks like a giant round vault door.” Vincent gave me another funny look and said, “Like that?” and pointed. I looked and lo and behold there it is! “Yup. That's it.” I nodded. He said, “And what of the other two that we passed by earlier that looked just like it?” I felt rather deflated at that. I shrugged and said, “I don't know. But at least that norrows down the search to three places.

 

Vincent shook his head and headed for a door, and a couple turns, doorways, and halls later, we ended up in a room with some computers. Vincent headed to one after another, trying to boot them up. It didn't work. Frusterated, I crossed my arms. Vincent turned to me and said, “Wait here. I'm going to try and turn the power back on to this room.” Before he even had time to even move after that statement, I protested, “I'd rather not. For all we know, they already know we're here and that would be the perfect opportunity to take us out.” Vincent shrugged and turned and headed out another door, I made to follow, but as soon as I rounded the corner he was gone. “Crap.”

 

I went back into the computer room and sat behind a desk trying to keep all entrances into the room in my line of sight while keeping partially hidden. Of course, I knew if they sent Shelke I'd be screwed. After all, she can turn invisible and all that. What are the chances they'll take me alive? Speak of the devil, the door on the left nudged open a little and then shut. Gulping and trying to calm my suddenly rapid heart beat, I stood up with my hands in the air and said out loud, “Shelke? Is that you?” Suddenly, the air shimmered to my left and Shelke appeared with a blade to my throat. I held as still as possible and said, “Hello Shelke.” Shelke frowned at me and said, “***** *** ******* ***.” I couldn't answer that and nearly cursed at my forgetting that everyone but Vincent speaks Gaian. Next thing I knew, Shelke moved, and a thud echoed through my skull along with pain, and I collapsed unconscious.

 

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Shelke put away her blades and picked up Matthew's body. She couldn't sense the other one nearby, but hopefully Azul is taking care of him. But more importantly, what language had these two intruders been speaking and why did this one know her name? She resolved to sneak him into base and probe his mind before she turned him over to Nero. Maybe... just maybe, if this boy knew her, then maybe he knew her sister.