Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Materia Mayhem ❯ ENCOUNTER! ( Chapter 1 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Finally, the debut of my FFVII & Slayers fusion! Ideas have been playing around for months, but for some reason today, I sat down and wrote them out. Hmm, I won't give away the character roles yet... but if you know me, I write Aeris-centered ficcies and this one is no exception. The story won't follow the Slayers storyline completely 'cause it's been a while since I last saw the series... and I'm actually combining the first series, NEXT & TRY together for this... so there'll be more characters to show up, like Xellos ('cause I worship him) and Filia... I SO love the spells from Slayers, so you'll be seeing A LOT of those.

Okies, just a li'l background explanation... and I own neither series--duh. Now enjoy.


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Aeris Gast, a young woman of 18 years, wandered through an unfamiliar forest one evening with thoughts of finding some information pertaining to her journey. She had traveled for so long, and it had been only a month since she left home, but it was quite an eye opener for someone who grew up in a village practically isolated from civilization. She stopped and stared upwards through the dark canopy of leaves to the fading skylight. The night would be falling soon, so she should find some sort of shelter. She continued walking to the end of the forest tunnel, which was just a few meters ahead.

When she exited the forest, stepping into an open wilderness, she stood speechless at the sight, watching the sun disappearing over the horizon of mountains. "So beautiful," she whispered, walking towards the small slope and sat down to admire the scenery. She then glanced down to the land below and saw there was some sort of fort in the rocky terrain, though the area was too small to be a village or such. People were certainly there with the fires flickering about, so she pushed onward to hopefully get a place to stay and maybe some information.


A Final Fantasy VII and Slayers Fusion

~ M a t e r i A * M a y h e M ~

written by K-chan


Episode One: ENCOUNTER! Meet the Not-So-Ordinary Yet Polite Maiden and Her Courageous and Confused Bodyguard!


The man gathered in the main square of the fort, ready for action that night, but none of them had expected a visitor, much less it being an attractive, young woman with round eyes of emerald. Her petite figure hidden beneath the pink cloak and her innocent face sparked temptation in their bodies as she walked through the gates of frozen guards. They were too stunned at her brave but stupid action to walk into the headquarters of a pack of notorious bandits.

The bandit leader, a large man of short stature, leaned forward in his seat, chuckling in great amusement at the lost kitten wandering into their territory. The crowd created a pathway to their leader for their visitor, with delight written all over their faces as their eyes tried to bore through the cloak to her body. She stopped short before the leader and politely bowed, which surprised everyone. She straightened up and smiled, "I'm sorry to intrude, but I have a few questions to ask you if that's all right?"

The big man laughed loudly and openly while the men around her joined him, amused at her naivete of not realizing the position she was in. "Young lady, do ya have any idea who're ya askin'?" he chuckled, wiping the tears from his eyes, as she looked on. He simmered down a bit, gesturing a hand to his men that signaled them to surround her to prevent any escape. She turned around and was only slightly bothered by their grins and stares. "Now be a good girl and serve me well tonight, and I may answer any questions you've got," he grinned lecherously.

"You can answer it right now," she said firmly. "I'm searching for materias. Do you have any information on them?"

"Materias? You mean those stones with magic in 'em?" She nodded, and he sat back, still smiling. "Well... come closer, and I'll tell ya." She hesitated a bit, but eventually took some steps forward... until several screaming men were flying towards the crowd. She turned around and saw a blonde man around her age holding a really big sword. She raised an eyebrow at the sight of the pile of men that fell in defeat at the new stranger's arrival.

"WHAT THE HELL?!!" the bandit leader yelled, standing up in anger. "WHO DO YOU THINK YA ARE?!! THIS TERRITORY BELONGS TO ME, LEADER OF THE BLACK DRAGONS!! HOW DARE YOU TRESPASS!! GET 'IM!!" All the banditss charged at the blonde stranger, but he reacted before they reached him, leaping high into the air with two hands gripping the sword over his head. He then descended with the weapon aiming downward, but the men weren't stupid enough to stand in its path. They scattered about to avoid the blade, letting it strike the dirt, but the grinning bandits didn't expect the sword's collision would create an aftershock that surge under the ground, making a small earthquake in the area.

Only the blonde swordsman remained standing as parts of the building began to crumb, and the men were in a panick to dodge the falling debris. Aeris pushed herself from the ground and stood there like a child in wonderment of being in an earthquake for the first time. She gasped when someone suddenly grabbed her wrist. She looked at the owner of the hand, who was the swordsman. "No time to sightsee!" he shouted, "Let's go!" He pulled her along, trying to avoid the raining ruins when they heard the leader's voice ordering his men to stop them. Much to the blonde's dismay, they had blocked off the exit.

Holding the girl's hand with his, he readied the other one with his sword, looking determined to get her out of there, but before he was going to strike another wave from his blade, he heard some soft words from his side, " Oh source of all power... light which burns beyond crimson... let thy power gather in my hands..." He noticed the bright red radiating from the girl's hand, "FIREBALL!" The blast shot out, blazing its way towards the bandit blockade, and exploded into brilliant flames into the night.


Watching the fortress in flames, the swordsman couldn't help but be surprised at the young woman who caused it. He looked at Aeris, who was resting by his side, breathing quite hard from the run. He didn't expect to meet a sorceress on his journey, and it didn't occur to him that she could've been one--and a young one at that. He had seen the bandits' headquarters from the hillside, but when he saw her walking in that direction, with intentions of entering the place, he had to do something. He couldn't stand by and watch a supposedly helpless girl wander into a dangerous place, but how wrong was he to think she was helpless.

He slapped the palm of his hand to his face, shaking his head, "I'm such an idiot."

Aeris looked up, "What do you mean?"

He turned away, blushing in embarrassment, but she couldn't see him and it was dark anyway. "If I had known you weren't a normal girl..." His voice trailed away as he struck his sword into the ground and squatted down, drooping his shoulders forward like he was depressed. He had a right to be when he had thought he would become someone if he saved a girl. All his life, it had just been one confusion after another. Everyone had a purpose in life yet here he was, wandering the land with no goals whatsoever.

"If you knew I was a sorceress, you wouldn't help me?" Aeris questioned.

He turned around to her, seeing her standing over him, and abruptly stood up, "NO! I mean, I would still help... Well, it's just that... umm, I... err..." And he was at a loss for words again.

She giggled, and he blinked at her. "Thank you," she said. "You cared enough to come... The means is always worth more than the results. Am I right, Sir Knight?" She giggled again, and this time, he couldn't help but join in the laughter.


Some time later, a fire crackled in the center of a field with two travelers sitting across from one another. Aeris was roasting two potatoes over the fire while the blonde swordsman, who introduced himself as Cloud Strife, watched. "It's dangerous for a girl to travel alone," he said suddenly and then blushed at having even thought it aloud, "You shouldn't be traveling... Aaah, I mean you shouldn't be alone... Uuh..."

She nodded, understanding what he meant and his good intentions, "That's what my mother said, but I am old enough to take care of myself. And besides, it's my responsibility." He blinkced at her, sensing question marks flashing over his head, and opened his mouth, wanting to ask a question, but nothing came out because he couldn't figure out how to phrase the question or what exactly he wanted to ask. But Aeris could see it in his blue eyes what he wanted to know without being too personal. "It's okay, Cloud," she said, "I'm traveling to search for materias."

"You mean those magical stones of legend... that hold power and wisdom of the Ancients?"

"Yes," she looked away and frowned a bit, "The rest is rather complicated." She faced him again and asked, "So, why are you traveling, Cloud? Not for the materias too?"

He shook his head, "No... I don't even know why... It just seems natural, like I'm searching for something. My purpose in the world, I guess."

"I see... Your path ahead is long, so I'm sure you'll find it. Just don't ever doubt yourself," she smiled. For some reason, the smile on her face just made the world a better place for him, like he could do the impossible. He wanted to thank her, but her attention turned to the potatoes that were finally done. She broke the stick in half and gave it to him. They bothed dined in silence beneath the starry night sky.

When the meal was over, they laid down on the grassy ground and gazed up at the stars, but it only took a few minutes before Aeris drifted off to dreamland. Cloud heard the soft breathing and glanced in her direction, noting how slightly curled up she was on her side, facing him. He stared at her, observing every detail of her face in the moonlight as long as he wanted this time and not feel too embarrassed. He absentmindedly smiled at the beautiful image and then returned to star-gazing again, with his mind still on their conversation before dinner.

Although she told him that she was looking for the materias, he wondered why she wanted them in the first place. Magic existed naturally on the Planet, but materias were said to have been created by the Ancients, so they possessed powerful spells/magics and also their knowledge and wisom through the centuries... but this certain race were no longer around, only their legends have been left through the materias that many have risk their lives to seek out.

Cloud never imagined to meet someone who was really searching for the materias. He, on the other hand, didn't really care for them since he wasn't adept in magic, but his sword skills were another matter, coming to him naturally like it was his very existence. But then again, these materias were becoming very interesting. "Materias, huh?" he smiled faintly.


The next morning, Aeris and Cloud were getting ready to continue their journey, but it was going to be different this time because Cloud had made his decision the night before. She stared at him with wide eyes, "What?! You're coming with ME?!" He was quite the honorable, young man, but she didn't think he would join her on her journey. She didn't think about companionship before either, but it would be nice to have someone to talk to.

He nodded, "Well... I know we each have our separate reasons for journeying, but I think it would be nice to travel with someone for a change. And... umm..." How come he could never stop blushing?! It wasn't like he was being judged before royalty, but just something about Aeris that made him a little nervous sometimes--maybe because she was a sorceress who could cast a spell with a snap of her fingers. "You probably need a bodyguard too," he said in a low voice that Aeris had to lean close to hear.

After Cloud repeated his last statement a second time, she smiled, "That would be very nice."

And so, they were on their way to the next landmark, getting to know each other better too. There were some things they didn't share with each other yet, but they pretty much have an idea and feel for the companionship between them. It only seemed like minutes when they were just talking, but it was already two hours later when the entered a village. Having not had breakfast yet, they head straight to the nearest restaurant on impulse. They sat down at a table in the center of the dining area and skimmed through the menu as if they actually knew what was on their like they were regulars.

Pointing to the menus, they simultaneously said to the waiter, "I'll have everything from here... to here." The waiter froze in his spot with notepad in one hand and a pen in the other, staring at them like they were talking cabbages, as they blinked at each other, and silence accompanied them. It didn't take long for their growling stomaches to tell their owners how empty they were.

"I guess we're really hungry," Cloud chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. Aeris nodded in agreement.

Eventually their food arrived, and they dug in hungrily although Aeris managed to still look civil as she moved from one dish to another like an assembly line. Cloud was too hungry to even bother with his table manners, but he was beginning to get used to being around Aeris. She was a tolerant person and comfortable to be around after he got past the fact she wouldn't tease him about his awkwardness at the beginning. She even praised him for his sword skills, saying that he was going to be an excellent bodyguard, and that made him very happy.

During the frenzy feast, an old man entered the restaurant and saw the pair devouring the food, but what he was more surprised to see is Aeris's familiar face. He walked up to them, "Excuse me, Miss, but are you related to Ifalna Gast in any way?"

"Why, yes. My name is Aeris Gast," she answered, "I'm her daughter."

"Really?!" Cloud blurted out. He knew Ifalna was a famous sorceress, but he had thought that it was just a coincidence that they had the same last name. She nodded.

"Aah, I thought so. You look exactly like her when she was young! She is a quite a sorceress--the most powerful of the Planet, I believe."

"Sir, you're too kind. But there must a reason for you to speak to me."

He nodded. "You're very observant. I'm sure being the daughter of a great sorceress, you would be able to do help us out. You see, there is a local bandit group around here. The Black Dragons ," he continued, "They come by our village often and demand everything from us. We would like you to solve this problem for us. And of course, we are willing to pay for your service."

"Oh, those guys," Cloud interrupted, "We took care of 'em last night."

The village elder looked astonished, and Aeris nodded to confirm her companion's words were true. The two returned to eating but halted when he asked them, "Did you kill the dragon?"

"Dragon?" she questioned, looking at Cloud. "They had a dragon?"

Cloud shrugged, "Didn't know there was one."

Suddenly, a boom from outside rocked the restaurant, and the tremendous power tore the roof from its foundations, making a clear view of the late morning skies where a large, black dragon was terrorizing the place. The old man panicked, shouting, "WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE CARE OF THE DRAGON??!!!"

Irritated at the expection, Cloud said, "We DIDN'T know they had one!"

"WELL, JUST GET RID OF IT!!"

"Hmm, it is rather troublesome to have it around when we're eating," Aeris sighed.

"Yeah," Cloud nodded and then turned to the village elder, "And we're gettin' paid, right? It's only fair."

"OF COURSE!!" He immediately pushed them out of the restaurant and into the streets of terrified people running for cover where there were still roofs. They spot the large dragon in the village square, knocking the houses around like toy blocks. Aeris flicked three fireballs at it, which was very ineffective, so Cloud charged off himself, thinking a large creature like him would be slow to react... But it wasn't apparently so when at the first sound of Cloud's movement, the dragon swiped its claw in his direction, which the swordsman was barely able to dodge in time, falling clumsily to the ground.

"CLOUD!" Aeris cried worriedly.

"I'M OKAY!" he shouted back, rolling away from the dragon's oncoming attack. While the dragon was occuppied with getting the pesky blonde out of his way, Aeris tried to think of what to do when she recalled a spell her mother had taught her that was very useful against dragons. Without hesitation, she began to chant the words, "Darkness from twilight, crimson from the blood that flows... buried in the flow of time... In thy great name, I pledge myself to darkness! Those who oppose us shall be destroyed... by the power of you and I possess... DRAGON SLAVE!"

An intense energy beam burst from her outstretched palms right at the dragon, completely annihilating it without a trace of the creature left behind. Cloud just stood their like a little soldier with dotted eyes, holding his sword in the air, frozen in mid-battle against the perished dragon. One second he was fighting the big thing, and the next in a flash of light, it was gone. Aeris ran up to him, very concerned, "Are you all right, Cloud? Did it hurt you really bad?!"

He shook his head, "Nothing I can't handle. But that was one awesome attack!!"

"One of the strongest that mother taught. It comes in handy when dealing with dragons, but I usually don't use it often. It just causes too much destruction."

"Right," he agreed, after witnessing such power from one spell. "Anyway let's finish our meals and get the pay--" And that was when he realized that part of the village behind him no longer existed. How unfortunate for them that Aeris's Dragon Slave had accidently destroyed half the village. They gulped and stared at the ruins with the dreadful feeling in their stomaches--not food. They didn't stay too long when they heard the village elder in the background yelling at them for the damage and demanding their responsibility.

"Oh no!" she cried, tears pouring from her eyes like waterfalls, "I destroyed the village! Mother will be so upset! I'm such a terrible person! Cloud, what am I going to do?!!"

"Forget the food and money!" Cloud shouted, grabbing a crying Aeris around the waist, and hauled her off in an escape while the angry villagers chased after them.


NEXT EPISODE... Hi! Aeris here to tell you about our next adventure! During our journey, Cloud and I meet a mysterious, young man and find ourselves in the middle of the town's problem! As we investigate the town, it brings us to beautiful sculptures... as well as another suspicous person. There's so much on my mind, but I don't want Cloud to worry about me. I hope things will clear up, and we can continue on to Wutai... Catch us next time on Materia Mayhem: "KIDNAPPED! Case of the Missing Maidens"


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I know, sillie, LONG title. It's another CloRis... Originally, I had planned it to be an AeriSeph... *shrug* I don't know what made me put Cloud in Gourry's place now, but I think it'll be all right... I've already got the next three episodes planned out. Take a BIG guess on who's playing Zelgadis-kun?! *giggle* But more action and magic comin' soon... Don't worrie, it'll get sillier later on--I just need to get more characters in.

Another CloRis, Mint-san! *smile*

Hmm, did I ever mention I've got a short attention span??!!!! Really, really... I'll have Life with a Goddess and Crimson Kiss update this weekend!!!! o>.<o