Prologue
A small boy came barreling through Cosmo Canyon, yelling and shouting,
causing quite a commotion in the quiet town.
“Nanaki! Nanaki! Look what I found!” The boy began running up to the
observatory where he was sure to find the Guardian of the Canyon. Nanaki’s
ears perked up, and he saw the small boy running toward him.
“What is it?’ He asked curiously, looking at the ancient looking book
in the boy’s hand, then back at the boy himself.
“Look what I found! I think it’s an Ancient’s book! It has the writing
in it that looks similar to it!” Nanaki was about to tell him he was mistaken,
for Nanaki was sure he had all the Cetra’s books in existence, but looked
down at the book, and was surprised to see that it actually was what looked
like the Ancient’s language, the familiar scrawl etched across the worn
cover. Picking up the book gently as not to wreck it further, he started
leafing through it awkwardly, forgetting about the boy who had brought
it, who was chattering about finding it and how he had listened to Nanaki’s
teachings about learning the Cetra’s language. The first page was written
in English, which was strange, for Nanaki was sure they didn’t know English
back then, and it said clearly: Though the seeds of the Cetra are few,
we have many to spread. We help them in their noble cause, but our name
is rarely said. But in this book contains the knowledge of the Saquri,
friend of the Cetra, loyal until the end. -Tahsina Strife. Nanaki stared
at the book, jaw-hanging open.
“Auntie Christy, why are you still here? Won’t Uncle Sephiroth be worried?”
Christy looked up, her blonde hair streaming in the wind. She smiled slightly
at Marlene, who was growing into quite the lady, looking at Christy in
concern.
“I’m fine Marlene, I’ll be back at the bar soon.” Christy said kindly,
smiling as she looked back at her older brother’s grave. It had been six
months since he had been murdered, and she was hoping they wouldn’t have
to run into Shinra, or she’d definitely give them a big piece of her mind.
A small sad smile formed on her ruby red lips as she knelt down, reading
the inscription of his grave, that had touched her so much. His funeral
was a huge social event, and it was a far cry than his isolated childhood.
“You still out here?” Christy looked up to see Sephiroth, who looked
respectively at her brother’s grave, then turned to her, kneeling down
to help her tug out the weeds that accumulated around his heavily flowered
grave.
“Let’s go. I’m sure that everyone will be mad at us for making them
wait to eat breakfast.” Christy said, and Sephiroth let a small curve come
to his lips. Christy gave a slight bow to her older brother’s grave before
walking away, Sephiroth’s arm hanging comfortingly on her slim shoulders.
“Cloud…” Cloud looked up to see Aeris, who had a wistful smile on her
face.
“Yeah, what’s up Aeris?” He asked, looking back toward the screen that
was showing the others eating breakfast and having a good time… without
him. He sighed; being dead wasn’t all it was cut out to be.
“Jenova has returned” Aeris whispered, and Cloud looked up at her,
confused. Hadn’t they defeated her already?
“What do you mean? We already defeated her, twice!” He stated, and
Aeris laughed, a pretty tinkling sound.
“She has been released from her prison.. I’m afraid you have
to defeat her family and her again.” And before he could say anything,
a blinding bright light flashed and he closed his eyes, trying to block
it out, then all went black as he sunk into unconsciousness.
“D***! So they’re really coming after Avalanche! S***!” Reeve hissed,
slamming his hands on his wooden desk, papers flying everywhere. He heard
a knock, and Laura, his secretary, popped in, looking nervously at her
employer, who looked very upset.
“Do you need anything sir?” She squeaked, looking worried at Reeve's
rare display of coarse language. She had never once heard him say anything
vile, but something must have riled up bad.
“No. Sorry if I worried you, but could you please get Reno on the line?”
Laura nodded, and closed the door softly. Reeve sighed, and rubbed his
goatee thoughtfully and worriedly. He would have to be cautious, last time
it had caused a death, and Reeve didn’t want that to happen to any of his
friends again.
“Sir! I have Reno on line one!” Laura called, and Reeve picked up the
phone slowly, dreading what he would have to tell them, knowing it would
shatter the peace they had worked so hard for.
Jenova opened her cold black eyes. The capsule of ice they had sealed her in wasn’t going to keep her here. Her coal black eyes sparkled with malice as she thought of those who had banished her from the planet. She smiled evilly, what was supposed to be her lips twisted upwards. She hated to burst their bubble, but a new Jenova was back. An evil laugh rang out through the planet, shaking it to its very core.