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TAINTED TRIALS
Written by Zephie-chan
CHAPTER 1 Yuffie softly padded through Cosmo Canyon. The skies were a clear blue, and the mid-afternoon breeze that gently flowed through the rocky canyons kept everyone remarkably cool despite the sun's oppressive heat. It was still hard for her to believe that not even a full week ago, the world was within seconds of being destroyed. That she, considered just an immature child by her father and the others of Wutai -- something she began to believe herself before she met the Cloud -- was able to help prevent it by fighting alongside her friends. That Aeris still existed within the Lifestream, and was able to help from beyond the veil of death to save the planet and destroy Sephiroth and end his reign of tyranny. It was time for everyone to return home to the peaceful life that they fought so hard to obtain; Cid even offered the Highwind for transportation services. Provided, of course, that it didn't delay him from getting home. Tifa and Cloud opted to go to Midgar and help with Reeve's relief effort. Barret decided to return to Corel with Marlene and help them to rebuild the town, and possibly with reopening the coal mines as well. Vincent's first idea was to return to the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim, but after a few words and stern looks from everyone, he amended his decision to traveling. Reeve decided to deactivate Cait Sith and leave it with Red-XIII, who insisted on being called Nanaki since deciding to stay in Cosmo Canyon as their spiritual leader Bugenhagen's stead. Yuffie, however, was still unsure of what she wanted to do, and was able to convince Cid to return for her after dropping the others off. In the mean time, she had to decide whether or not to return to Wutai and face her father, or continue her original quest before meeting the others in the forests outside Fort Condor. Her contemplations were interrupted as she noticed the people on the Canyon's lowest level scatter in a confused commotion. The wind suddenly picked up to that of a gale not long after, signaling Cid's arrival in the Highwind. He had come back after all. "Have you decided on a course of action?" Came a deep and rhythmic voice from behind her. Yuffie watched as Nanaki approached without any outward emotion, yet it never ceased to amaze her how majestic he looked; his red-orange fur seemed to shimmer like something materially precious under the sun's radiance. His one good eye was trained on her as his ears followed the Highwind's landing. She looked away from him to watch the airship settle. Even as she leaned against against a wooden railing on the Canyon's highest level, her favorite place, she knew what her decision was. There was no thinking about it anymore. "Yes." She told him flatly as a moment of silence washed over them when the Highwind disengaged its engines. Cid jumped from the Highwind with all the grace of a old cat and started making his way up to where they were, having no doubt spotted them on his descent. "Let's go meet him half way, shall we?" She told Nanaki, unwilling to fully give in to his questioning leer. "Hey, guys! Cid's back!" He yelled to Yuffie and Nanaki as they came in hearing distance. "Took me a while, though. You finally figure out what you're gonna do or am I gonna have to decide for your ass?" He asked, giving her what he knew was an I'm-being-obnoxious-on-purpose grin. "Oh?" Yuffie approached Cid carefully, a wide grin slowly widening across her face. "Does little Ciddie miss Ms. Shera that much?" Cid stared at her for a long moment without any expression showing. Then, without a work, his face broke into a lop-sided half-grin, half-smile as he gently patted her head in an almost loving gesture. "Kids... these... days..." ... "Of monsters and mind," says the author. "This chapter's number is yet undecided." Darkness. A pure, pitch black void. Yuffie couldn't believe it was as dark as it was; usually a small amount of light glowed no matter where she was because of the concentration of mako in the Crater, but not now. The only thing that kept her from thinking that she was floating away was the uncomfortable feeling of the hard rock poking into her back where she lay. She sat up slowly, tentatively, testing out her ability of movement. There was no pain, but it was a struggle to keep upright, owing the need to bend forward and support herself with her arms outstretched against the floor between her spread legs. A light suddenly shown in the distance and slowly grew brighter as it got closer. However, no matter how close or bright it got, it's swaying form never touching upon its owner. That in itself seemed strange to her, but it became increasingly hard to think; a touch of familiarity with the light surfaced in the deep recesses of her mind, suddenly setting off tingle of warning. A few more seconds passed as the light drew dangerously near and the tingle suddenly burst out into an outright screaming emotion as she realized what it was. "Shit!" Yuffie cursed a string of profanities that would make Cid proud and struggled to her feet, the numbing feeling spreading quickly from the stomach to the rest of her body, but slow enough for her to adjust properly; her training in numbing poisons helping her to move. The darkness subsided as she began to move and she was finally able to see the body of the Tonberry shuffling towards her. It's bottle green skin gently reflected the pastel yellow color of the aura emanating from the lantern it carried. It's eyes didn't help matters any either, as if they were delving into the very depths of her soul. It wasn't anything like when she first came to the crater to face Sephiroth. Granted, the Tonberries of that time were fierce, but nothing like what was happening now. Nothing could block the sudden, overwhelming feeling of helplessness that engulfed her. As the Tonberry grew nearer, visions of death began to plague her thoughts: Her pale, dead eyes staring into nothing; her body laying unmoving; a pool of seemingly infinite amounts of her blood. For a fleeting moment she thought she was really going to die. Lost forever in the darkness of the Northern Crater where no one would be able find her. For the second time in her eighteen years of life, Yuffie felt truly scared. ... |
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Final Fantasy VII and its characters, locations, names, etc. is copyright Square-Enix and affiliated companies.
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