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“Bye Re- er Nanaki,”Cloud shouted as he waved at Cosmo Canyon. The people
of the canyon town had been nice, although the dusty weather and bleakness of the
surroundings was starting to wear on some of the party members. Aside from that they
had to keep pressing forward on their mission. Everyone else was piling in the newly fixed
buggy and he turned and joined them. As he was about to start it the large, feline form of
Red XIII ran out of Cosmo Canyon and jumped in. A few of the party’s members turned
in surprise.
“You’re going to come with us?” Tifa asked with a hopeful glow to her large
brown eyes, her long brown hair framing her face.
“Yes,”Red answered, “Grandfather convinced me that it would be best if I went
along to help you out.”
“Welcome back,”Cloud said as he started the jeep,”Next stop, Nibelheim.” With
that he hit the gas pedal and they drove off, crossing some plains and a small shallow river
on the way. Once on the other side Nibelheim rose out of the mountain ranges to greet
them straight ahead but to their right something also greeted their eyes.
A small house that stood out in the ruins around it. The ruins seemed like they
were built right out of the mountains and the house was the central building. It appeared
like it had at one point been a meeting house or building for the heads of the city to
discuss things. Slightly dilapidated the whole of the ruins wasn’t even half the size of the
observatory town of Cosmo Canyon.
Cloud drove over and parked just outside, letting everyone out. He then readied
his sword and they began looking around. Stone pillars lay in heaps, rubble everywhere
on the ground, and the house itself was an old building that had been slightly renovated.
As Cloud approached it he heard noises coming from inside it and got ready to attack. He
stepped into the building and inside he saw a girl hunched over cleaning a gun. From
behind Cloud could see that her hair was dark red with silver streaks in it almost like
highlights.
Without even turning or listening really she said,”Get out. There’s nothing here
for thieves.” Suddenly she turned around and pointed a loaded gun at them uttering the
phrase “Get Out!” again.
She surveyed the party that had entered her home and gave them each a good
visual exam. The aparent leader was wielding a sword almost the size of himself and his
blond hair poked up like a porcupines. His eyes glowed a bright blue, having been infused
with mako power. His outfit though was that of a first class Soldier, the highest member
of the ShinRa army. Beside him stood a shapely young girl with long brown hair in a pony
tail and deep brown eyes. She wore a white tank top, a brown pair of shorts and a
fighting glove on her hands. There was also a young girl with her hair in a braid all the
way down her back and a light pink dress on. Her eyes were warm and green and she
looked young. At the top of her braid where there was a pink bow was a piece of white
materia. Closer to the ground though stood, easily the oddest looking member of the
group. Red XIII was a large beast, literally. With flame red fur he resembled a large cat
crossed with a panther somewhat. Add to this that he was covered in tribal markings and
only had one eye and you can see how easily he was the most.... unique looking member
of the party of adventurers. Behind these though she could see a tall, muscular black man
with a gun instead of a right hand. He looked onto the whole scene with watchful eyes as
if expecting a fight.
Seeing the mans outfit and recognizing the mako in his eyes she let out a wild
shriek and shouted,”You damn soldiers again!” She cocked the shotgun and aimed it at
him while standing slowly and grabbing another pistol, aiming it for the others who were
standing somewhat behind the young soldier..
“Damn Soldiers, Damn ShinRa, Damn Hojo...” She cursed while mentally
remembering her training.”I’m not going back to that lab with the mental patient for a
scientist. Not again!”
Aeris and Red both hearing this quietly motioned for Cloud to put his weapon
down. Cloud made no motion to do this the girl shot right by his left foot as a warning
shot. Aeris came forward once more and again implored Cloud to put the weapon down.
When he and the others finally did Aeris turned and looked at the girl. A shocked look
came into the eyes of the gunslinger and she half asked half stated,”Ifalna? Your mother
was... Ifalna?”
Aeris nodded and spoke up,”Yes... My mother was Ifalna. But you mentioned
ShinRa. I can assure you we aren’t ShinRa come to take you back. Red and I are staying
away from ShinRa as well.” As she said this Red stepped closer to the gunslinger and
nodded his head.
“I can vouch for what she says. It is all true.”
“You’re the last remaining ancient aren’t you Aeris?” Aeris was shocked that her
name was known but simply nodded. The guns were lowered and the girl smirked.
“How ironic it is that I should run into you here. And what’re you doing with this
soldier and his little friends?”
“Well, we’re fighting to stop ShinRa...”Aeris said her voice trailing off as the
realization of who she was speaking to sunk in.
“Wait! Are you the woman who helped my mother escape the lab?” Then she
shook her head,”No, you couldn’t be, you’d have to be her daughter or something.”
All the woman said in reply to this was,”You’re grown up Aeris, you’re not the
little girl I remember.” At this everyone took a step back, eyes wide.
“How?” A few of them asked.
“This is as much as I’ll say..” The gunslinger said in a warning tone,”Hojo altered
me somewhat over the time I was stuck in his lab.” With that said she holstered her guns
and threw a few other guns into a back pack along with alot of ammunition, a few apples,
and some other bits of food. She also threw a couple pieces of clothing in as well. After
finishing packing she went to the one wall where, mounted upon it was a long katana
much like Sephiroth’s. As she took it down she smiled slightly then resumed her marble
exterior again, strapping it to her back. This done she turned to Cloud and simply
stated,”I’m coming with you.”
Cloud was taken aback and then looked at everyone else and said,”I’m not sure
about this...” Turning back to the gunslinger he asked,”Why do you want to come
along?”
“Revenge,”she replied,”To get Hojo back for all that time he tortured me.. I want
to see him pay for his sins as I have done.” Slinging the pack on her back she took a few
steps towards them. Meanwhile Aeris and Red were encouraging Cloud to let her come
along. Reluctantly he agreed and soon the party was on it’s way again.