Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy 7: Darkness Falls ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter 2: Darkness Falls

by Gemini83

Disclaimer: You know it, I don't own FF7

`She's going to wake up with one hell of a start.' thought the
traveler, as he attempted to revive Aeris. Strange, he had always
mentally referred to her as `girl' or `woman,' but seeing her body
here, knowing the sacrifices she had made, made him realize that she
was a person as well. The young Cetra had endured much pain to save
her friends.

`Let's hope this works.'

There was always some chance involved with reviving people. Many
times, their bodies would be too far gone, not able to contain life.
Yet she was a Cetra, moreover, her body had been preserved, in almost
perfect condition, by the waters of the lake.

He noticed small strands of Lifestream slowly snaking their way into
the body. It was working. The color began to returned to her skin. The
wanderer concentrated more, willing her soul to return, drawing forth
her life energies from the planet. He noticed that her face began to
move. Slowly, it turned into a wince of pain.

`It will hurt like hell Aeris, but at least the pain means that you're
alive to feel it.'

Her eyelids quickly opened, as she arched her back and screamed forth
her cries of pain. Aeris was in agony. The coldness raged through her,
and now she felt as if her entire body was being stabbed. She began to
shudder uncontrollably. Even though her eyes were open, she couldn't
see a thing. She screamed again in pain. Then, someone held her,
refusing to let go, despite her convulsions. At first, she was afraid,
but then she realized that whoever it was meant her no harm. The way
they held her, it was like a mother cradling her baby. Slowly, her
body calmed down, the tremors subsided, and Aeris felt warm again. She
felt whoever it was lay her down again, giving her space to move. The
stranger wanted to make sure she was alright, and she felt a hand
touch her forehead. Aeris cautiously got up on her elbows, her eyes
slowly adjusting to the new light.

The image of a dark figure slowly began to coalesce.

`Cloud?' she thought.

The figure resolved into the shape of a man Aeris had never seen
before. He was dressed in black, with silver armor protecting him and
the hilt of a sword protruding from behind. At first, she felt a sense
of fear, reminded of Sephiroth. Then she looked through his helmet,
into his deep, piercing eyes. They were bluish-grey, with tinges of a
familiar green glow. She read in those eyes pain, but sensed feelings
of security as well. They seemed to say, "Everything's alright."

His voice woke her from her thoughts.

"Don't worry," he said, "nothing will harm you."

She merely gazed at him, speechless.

"Are you okay?" asked the calm, deep voice.

"...Yes..."said Aeris tentatively, "where am I?"

"You are in the City of the Ancients."

She felt at her stomach, where there was now a scar. She could
remember the sword...her clothes were still torn from the blade that
had caused the wound.

"I'm alive?"

"Yes." he answered.

"How...?" she asked

"Eat this first." he handed her a wafer of some sort of bread. She
slowly nibbled at it, then with more certainty as her hunger took
over. Whatever it was tasted good.

The man nodded slightly and handed Aeris a canteen, which she
gratefully drank from. Upon finishing the first meal she had had in a
year, Aeris felt surprisingly rejuvenated. She looked at the helmeted
figure with questioning eyes.

"Good," he said, "that food was concentrated with energy, you should
feel fully functional in a few moments."

"Thank you," she returned. "Who are you, and what am I doing here?"

"I am a friend," he replied, "as for why you're here, let's take that
up when we meet with your comrades."

She immediately conjured up images of the others, Cloud, Tifa, Barret,
little Marlene...

"You know my friends?"

"Not exactly...but they should be waiting for you near Bone Village."

She was about to ask him more questions when she heard an explosion
close by.

"What was that?" she shouted.

The stranger looked around, then turned to her.

"Can you walk?" he asked.

She slowly got on her feet, nodding affirmatively.

"What's wrong?" questioned Aeris.

"I sense trouble. Here take this." the man handed her two familiar
objects.

"My White Materia! And my staff!" exclaimed Aeris, her weapon even had
a few materia stones in it, "Where did you...?"

"No time for explanations," he interjected. "I hate to do this to you,
but you have to run towards the forest, past Bone Village, and meet
your friends. Be sharp, they don't know you're coming."

Aeris had a mountain of questions she wanted to ask, but settled for,
"What's wrong?"

"They are coming," he replied, helping her to the forest's edge.

"Who...?"

The explosions got louder and closer.

"No time, RUN! Find your friends!" he shouted.

Aeris had no time for more questions, for the dark figure immediately
ran back towards the city, drawing his sword. More explosions broke
out through the night air.

"Whatever it is can't be good," she said to herself, "well, I better
find the others." Aeris began running through the forest, hoping that
her friends would be nearby, trusting that the strange man had not
lied to her.

From a distance, shrouded figures watched her leave, and followed
her...

Meanwhile, the traveler could feel that Aeris had already left. Good,
she would be safe, as long as he could hold off whatever was coming.
The wanderer cursed as he finally felt what was approaching the city.

"Shit...Reavers."

Dark behemoths descended upon the city, and found him waiting.

"So," he taunted, "I see they sent their toys to follow me."

The dark creatures hid in the shadows. He could not see them, but knew
where they were. They let forth a shrill cry to answer him.

The stranger somehow understood their outburst.

"Nevertheless," he continued, "If you want her, you'll have to get
through me." He brandished his sword, which shimmered and promised
death.

The creatures screamed as they came into the light, huge were-beasts,
with razor sharp talons and metal work protruding from everywhere, the
blood of countless murders still unwashed from their foul bodies. They
were the ultimate killing machines for their masters.

Several monsters rushed towards the wanderer, as he braced himself for
combat.

`Here they come.'

Screams and explosions could be heard for miles around.

Author's Note: Yes, yes, I know what you're probably thinking...`Not
another Aeris resurrection fic!' Bear with me, and I'll try to make
this work. Also, don't expect Cloud to dump Tifa anytime soon, they've
been married for nearly a year. Sorry Aeris fans. As always, drop me
some suggestions, and I can try to work them in. One more thing, what
was Red's mom's name?