Vincent Comes Home

VahlanaAngel--Thank you for your review. I appreciate it! I really do! And you've done your first fic? Well, I tried to look up your user name so I could read it--but I couldn't find it! So, if you want, leave me a link. I'd love to go and read it (and that means everyone else should too!)! :)

Rune --I'm glad you like Tifa so much. This is my very first Final Fantasy fiction, so I'm thrilled that you like it. I was terrified that it would be horrible. Thank you so much for your comments and support, it means a lot to me! :D

MaTaki--Yay! I'm so glad to find another convert! I've always had kind of a closet love for Reno and Yuffie. I think the two of them are perfect for each other. They crack me up. Oh wow, your friends like it too? Thank you so much. Boy, I hope they don't have killer expectations. I don't wanna let them down. Thank you so much for your support and comments.

The Wonderfully Supportive Nevaeh Bluden--I always appreciate your strong support and comments. Thank you. *hugs* I think carefully about the comments I receive. I just wanted you to know that I take you seriously and I consider all the suggestions I get. Thank you again. :)

Well. I'm on chapter 17, friends. Thank you for all your support, if you're still with me.

Through the portal to Abarat--Abarat is a fabulous book, by the way. And I really like putting those little intro-like things. Even if they have nothing to do with the chapter. :)

Cid stretched, nodding to Barret. “Jus’, if somethin’ does happen down there…”

“Agreed. Get ‘im out. Can’t do nothin’ for ‘im if he’s dead.” Barret narrowed an eye at him, crossing his arms. “What’s Tifa know tha’ we don’t, anyway? How did she know t’come here?”

“Fuck, I dunno. She just asked me to fly ‘er. She didn’t say what divine presence let ‘er know. But she’s gonna be tore up if this doesn’t work. And if somethin’ happens to ‘im…”

Barret nodded, finishing the sentence silently.

The two men were still quiet, staring out the windows when Vincent stepped onto the bridge. Cid turned around and looked him over. He grinned. “I’d almost expected you to change back into your old gear—for old times’ sake.”

Vincent shook his head. “It would be impractical. And these things are warmer.”

“An’ cleaner,” added Barret.

Vincent chose to ignore that. He walked up to stand next to them. As expected, the snow was getting thicker.

“There it is.”

The Captain of the Highwind and the former commander of Avalanche nodded.

Indeed, there it was.

The Crater.

It hadn’t changed much. Still desolate, still dark, still giving off the feeling of unease. No doubt it would still reek of death and blood.

Vincent’s fingers went cold. He glanced down, realizing he was touching his gun. He had removed his old belt and strapped it on for his weapons. Underneath his suit jacket was an armlet. All were given Materia.

When they had split ways, almost three years ago, they had divided up their supply of Materia. Everyone got a favorite summon or two (except for Yuffie and Nanaki, who had had to flip a coin to see who would get Bahamut Zero—Nanaki won) and some Command and Spell Materia. Vincent had ended up with Hades and Kjata, a few orbs of Support Materia and the basic supply of Spell Materia (Cure, Time, and Barrier). Cid had nicked Comet at the last minute and Tifa had practically begged Contain from Barret. Cait Sith had…Vincent had to think for a moment. He couldn’t really remember what Cait Sith had taken. The cat had wanted little except for the Command Materia, Throw, Manipulate and Morph, after it was all said and done. He was going back to Reeve, he’d told them all, to live a life without terrible battles. Never again, he had said, prancing about on his mog. Never again would he become involved in battles to save the world. Never again.

Vincent smiled softly at the memory. He put his whole hand over the sleeve that hid his armored wrist and felt the cold metal underneath. He closed his eyes.

It’s been a long time…

Too long.


He felt the Materia glow warm in response, reaching out, begging to be used.

(I will make you fast. I will slow or stop your enemies.)

(I will help you heal and strengthen. I will keep you alive.)

(I will protect you from attack. Physical or Magical, I will be your Wall.)

(I will help you kill and maim. The Elements are Mine.)

(I will help you kill and maim. Poison, blind, or painful Death—all of these are Mine.)

There was always the danger of growing addicted to Materia. To hear their voices, or to feel that rush of warmth and the power. Yes, the power could reel you in. You’d give an inexperienced fighter a Summon of Bahamut and he’d annihilate the whole block. And then, merely to feel that warmth—to feel that oneness with the Summon—he’d do it again. Now, you had to have a license to own destructive Materia. But Vincent and his cohorts were, of course, untouchable. Who would dare ask them to get a license?


O’Malley did a sweep around the Crater and landed on the only bit of open space available. Cid gave him a nod.

Vincent turned on his heel and strode out of the room before either man could say a word. He met Tifa at the exit ramp, she was just adjusting her gloves and putting in orbs of Materia. She smiled at him. Her eyes were red; it looked at though she hadn’t slept at all. She showed him her gloved arm. “This is just like the old days, remember? I’ve got Shiva and Neo Bahamut. I’d forgotten how much they call to you.”

Vincent remembered their calls as well.

(I will help you kill and maim. The Frigid Death is Mine.)

(I will help you kill and maim. The powers of the Bahamuts are Ours alone.)

“Who has the Knights?”

(I will help you kill and maim. Honor is the Duty. Victory is Ours.)

“Cloud had it, at first, but he’s still a little woozy on his legs, so he agreed to hand it over to Nanaki.”

Vincent smiled. “Agreed or you took it away from him and gave it to Nanaki?”

Tifa smiled, and this time the smile reached her eyes, lighting up her whole face. “He agreed. I just had to prompt him.”

“Forcefully.”

Tifa laughed, slapping his arm.

“Where is Cloud, anyway?”

Tifa’s smile fell and Vincent instantly wished he’d said nothing. Tifa sighed. “He said he wanted to get ready on his own this morning.”

Vincent nodded. “Are you ready, then?”

Tifa nodded back.

With her there in front of him, Vincent found himself looking into her eyes. He blinked, trying suddenly to force an image of Lucrecia into his mind. But found that, no matter his effort, he could not. He swallowed, looking up at Tifa again.

She was nothing like Lucrecia. She was a fighter, not a scientist. She was short, where Lucrecia had been tall. Supple where she had been willowy. Street smart versus book smart. Tough or fragile. Strong or weak. Prett—

“Might I escort you lovely ladies off the ship?” Reno was suddenly appearing between the two of them, dressed in his blue Turk suit. He gave a great exclamation of surprise when he clapped eyes on Vincent. “Well, look at that. Sorry Vincent. With that long, black hair I thought you were a woman. Although, I must admit my folly, I’ve never met a woman as broad shouldered as you. And your hips!” He shook his head. “But I suppose it’s a blessing. It’ll be easier when you have children, you know.”

“You’re not coming with us, are you?” Vincent asked, rather coldly, swiftly getting a hold of himself.

“ ’Course I am,” said Reno, taking out his rod and flipping it a few times. “Someone has to take Cait Sith’s place. You got the two roughnecks to take Aeris’ place. You’ll need me.”

“Such arrogance,” Tifa said, sourly. “You learn that from the Turks?”

Reno gave her a look of feigned surprise. “It’s in the job description, sweets.”

Tifa raised her eyebrows.

“Honest to God,” Reno said, crossing his heart with his free hand. “Was right there in the newspaper. Turks seeking arrogant, sons-of-bitches to train for ShinRa. Send resume to Asshole Headquarters (ie, President ShinRa’s Office). Swear to God,” said Reno, more loudly because Tifa had burst out laughing. “Ask Vinnie, he’ll fucking tell ya. Aren’t I right, Valentine? Go on, tell ‘er.”

It seemed now that every time Reno talked to him, he somehow mentioned that he had been a Turk, like him. Vincent wondered why. But he was saved from answering the question when Cid came up behind them.

“Doors unlocked girls, what’re we all standin’ here for?”

“I resent that remark,” Reno said, scowling.

“Wassamatter, shithead?”

“Aw, Cid, there’s no reason to call him that,” said Yuffie, coming up behind them.

“Would you rather me call him buttface?”

For some reason, Yuffie found that uproariously funny and she howled with laughter as Cid opened the door and walked down the ramp.

Vincent paused. He looked at Tifa. “Are you going to be warm enough?”

She smiled. “Yes. Thank you, Vincent.”

He looked at her.

“Oh,” she said, glancing down, realizing he was waiting for her to follow. “I’m going to wait for Cloud.”

“Ah,” he said, suddenly feeling awkward and intrusive, he turned quickly and walked down the ramp.

They waited at the bottom of the ramp, checking weapons and Materia. Zet and Jeremiah came off the ship. Jeremiah was sporting some kind of crossbow and Zet carrying a double-bladed halberd and a small dagger.

“Lookit this,” said Jeremiah, immediately approaching Vincent, an enthusiastic smile on his face. “This bow fires Materia-loaded shots. M’Dad used it back when ‘e was in the military. Beauty, in’t it?”

“Seems quite old.”

“I’s an antique!”

“Certainly looks like it,” Reno snarked from Vincent’s right.

“Still works jus’ as nice as the day my old man got it. See, ya jus’ activate wha’ y’want,” and the older man raised the bow and pointed it upwards. A green light glimmered in his arm.

Vincent stepped backwards. And not a second too soon.

A green shot of light erupted from the nose of the crossbow and fired into the sky. A split-second later, a bolt of white lightening thundered into the ground where Vincent had been standing.

“Whoa!” Reno yelped, jumping backwards. “Jesus Christ, old man! What the hell a’you doin’?!”

Jeremiah gave Reno a look that showed he thought the red-head was being dense. “Showin’ my weapon to Vincent. I’m a long-range fighter, you know? Always was. When I was in th’wars, I was a commander. First Division Crossbow Unit. They used t’call me…uh…shit…” He seemed puzzled. “Oi, Zet! Wha’ was it they used t’call me when I was a commander?”

Zet was standing a couple meters away, comparing weapons with Yuffie and checking her Materia. She scratched her ear, grinning incredulously at him, shrugging. “I dunno, Jeremy.”

“You sure? Coulda sworn I’d told ya. Maybe tha’ was a different story.”

“Naw, I’ve heard ‘em all about a million times. I don’t think you told me. It was probably Lightening Man or something equally ridiculous.”

Jeremiah didn’t seem to hear the last bit. “May’ap that was it. Lightening Man. Well anyway,” he went on, waving away the thought.

Reno was shaking his head, laughing. “You know, old man. You’re somethin’ else. Some part of me wants to just shock you to death. The other part of me thinks you’re hilarious.”

Tifa and Cloud finally came down the ramp. Cloud was carrying his sword, mostly looking to be equipped with Spell and Support Materia and one lonely Summon, which turned out to Alexander.

(I will help you kill and maim. The Planet supplies my power. Holy is Mine.)

“Are we ready then?” asked Cid, taking one final drag off his cigarette and stomping it into the dirt.

“Le’s go,” grumbled Barret, brushing snow off his head.

“I will lead,” said Nanaki. “I have the best nose, as it were.” The beast shook himself and took to the front.

The Crater was dark. The dirt below their feet was black as tar and the air seemed heavy. Their voices echoed unnaturally loud, or perhaps it was just the silence of the place. Corpses of monsters littered the ground. The stench of death and blood was thick in the air. The snow did not seem to fall here. It was as though it diverted itself so as not to land in such a horrible place.

“Is any of this fresh?” asked Cid, toeing the body of a decayed dragon. It’s silver scales stiff with dried blood.

“We don’t need the cat to tell us that. We’ve got eyes. This blood is old.” Reno poked at a monstrously mutilated body with his rod.

“An' he’s got the best nose, smartass. He can scent fresh blood on th' breeze.”

“What breeze?” Reno rolled his eyes.

“You can’t feel it,” said Nanaki, simply. “Your senses are too dull. But no, Cid, nothing here seems fresh.”

“That’s odd,” Vincent muttered, looking about.

“What?” asked Jeremiah, making a face at some sort of beast that had suffered a brutally broken neck.

“I assumed we would be going into battle almost as soon as we landed,” Yuffie put in. “Considering everything we went through last time.”

“We’ll take advantage of it,” said Vincent. “Let’s move on.”

“Something does smell odd here, though,” Nanaki said, as the group furthered into the darkness. “I sense something.”

“What?” asked Barret, his brown eyes shifting quickly over the wasted soil.

“I don’t know. It just seems odd.”

Tifa moved closer to Cloud, lingering by him protectively. Vincent felt odd at the sight of it and suddenly dug into his jacket. He pulled out a bar of chocolate and tugged on the wrapper as the group climbed down into the Crater’s walls. He stuck the bar in his teeth so he could grip with both hands.

When they reached the interior, he peeled off the remainder of the wrapper and put it in his pocket (somehow, it seemed wrong to just throw it on the ground, even in a place like this).

Yuffie glanced at him and did a double-take. “What are you doing?”

Vincent rolled his shoulders, suddenly not wanting to answer at all. He stuffed a piece of chocolate in his mouth and declined to answer.

“He’s having a little snack, Yuffie. Most likely, he didn’t eat breakfast.”

Vincent stopped chewing to stare at Tifa, at once surprised and grateful. She gave him a warm smile that made him look away again.

“Chocolate for breakfast?” Yuffie muttered.

“There are better things for breakfast,” Reno replied, giving her a suggestive look. “I suggest ribs,” he said, suddenly grabbing her under her breasts. He slid his hands upward. “And a side of—“

“Would you two knock it off!” Cid snapped, looking as though an eye might pop out.

For once, both of them silently acquiesced, grinning sheepishly.

“I figured this whole place would be rubble,” Tifa said, changing the subject. “It practically collapsed when Sephiroth died.”

“Guess not,” said Cid, curtly. “Let’s go.”

“Aw, this place make you nervous, old man?” Reno asked, smirking.

“Yeh,” Cid said, tartly. “An' th'sooner we get in an' outta here, th'fucking better.”

“The smell is getting stronger,” Nanaki muttered. “I don’t like this.”

Yuffie slowed. “I can smell it too. It smells like…”

“Like death,” said Tifa.

“Like rotten eggs,” muttered Barret.

“Like Shadows,” said Cloud, softly.

Everyone went quiet and stared at Cloud. His eyes were glazed, seeing nothing ahead.

But Vincent saw the Stairs. Or what remained of them. There were no green lights this time. And no eerie wailing. Just cold, crumbling stone.

Cloud's eyes were open, unseeing. He walked to the Stairs.

“Cloud. Cloud, what are you doing? Cloud!” Tifa grabbed his arm. He flung her back, shaking her off and walked right over the edge where the stairs had been.

“Cloud!”

“Shit!” Cid used his spear and did a flying leap over the edge. Barret thundered after him.

“Yuffie!” Vincent looked to her.

The ninja nodded and jumped, wielding her shuriken. The others ran to the edge.

“Holy shit!” They heard Cid yelp.

“What is it?!”

“Barret!”

“Cid, are you okay?”

“Hey, Yuffie! You all right?!”

“Fuck this!” Reno snapped his rod out and leapt over the edge.

“Send me some light!” Yuffie voice floated up to them. And then, “Goddammit, hold him!”

“Cloud!” Tifa shouted. She folded her hands and activated her Materia. A ball of fire, about the size of a basketball, formed between her hands. She threw it away from her and then jumped after it.

Vincent followed her, drawing out his gun. He heard Nanaki whisk after him.

“Where we goin’?” Jeremiah asked. “H-hey, Zet!”


Vincent hit the ground in a low crouch and was up immediately. Nanaki landed perfectly on all fours. Jeremiah slammed into the stone and rolled, coming up on his knees with his crossbow at ready. Zet landed on the ground gracelessly, hitting awkwardly and falling on her hands and knees.

Tifa’s ball of flame lit up the area. The orange light somehow casting a more eerie look than the green tint ever had.

Barret had a hold of Cloud. The boy was struggling madly, trying to get at something.

“What’s wrong with him?” Zet called.

“He’s havin’ a fit,” said Cid and he brought his spear up and clubbed the boy over the head.

Cloud went limp and Barret dropped him. Tifa ran over. “Cloud? Cloud, are you all right?” She looked imploring at them. “What happened?”

“How the fuck shoul’ we know?” snapped Barret.

“Give up some more lights,” Nanaki said suddenly. “The smell is strongest here.”

“I can hardly smell anything.”

“That’s because you’re smoker,” Reno said, rolling his eyes. “You can’t smell shit except ashtrays.”

Cid glared at him. “Clearly you’ve never been addicted to anythin'.”

“Oh, he’s been addicted to something, all right. But what he’s addicted to is free,” said Yuffie, grinning wickedly.

“Oh Christ,” said Cid, rolling his eyes as Reno burst into laughter.

Vincent knelt next to Tifa. “Is he all right?”

She looked at him, eyes wide. “I don’t know. There’s something here.”

“Can you make more light? I have no elemental Materia.”

She nodded and stood. She made two more balls of fire and sent them in different directions.

Light flared around them.

They stared.

“What the hell is that?” asked Zet, lowering her halberd and slowly moving forward.

It was blackened and gooey-looking. It lay on the floor in a large puddle. It had a radius of, perhaps, ten feet. And it was moving. It was swirling in a lazy circle. Green streaks could be seen in the blackness.

Vincent felt a chill go through him. “That’s…Jenova…”

“Jenova?” Cid asked sharply, snapping his head over to look at him. "How d'you know?"

Vincent didn't answer. He stared at the blackness.

“What the hell? How can tha’ be Jenova?” Barret asked, raising his gunarm, nonetheless.

Nanaki approached the pool. “It seems to be some kind of essence.” He crouched low, his hackles rising.

“How can that still be here?” Yuffie asked, crossing her arms. “We killed Sephiroth.”

“Damn,” said Reno. “And all you left was a sticky pile of goo.”

“No,” said Nanaki, softly, almost a whisper. “I can sense life from it.”

Everyone instinctively took a step back, except for Vincent who stood as if frozen, staring at the pool.

“It callllllllsssssssss to meeeeeeeee.......”

They turned too late.

Cloud had risen, limply, like a grotesque puppet show. His eyes were rolling. “It callllllssssssss…calllllsssss to meeeeee…..” He started to run.

“Grab him!” Cid roared.

Tifa leapt at his back and grabbed his shirt. She tugged, hard. Cloud whipped around, grabbed her arms and threw her. She slammed into Reno and they hit the stone.

Someone cast out Stop, but it did nothing. Roaring and shouting and swearing seemed to come in to Vincent’s ears from everywhere. He blinked, coming out of the strange staring he'd been doing.

"Vince!"

He moved automatically.

He found himself in front of Cloud. The boy roared, almost animalistic. Vincent grabbed his arms, digging his claw into the boy’s flesh. He swung Cloud around. He clenched tight and made as if to throw him, but suddenly, Cloud had his feet. He latched onto Vincent and struck him with an armored fist. Vincent was dazed for a split-second. Cloud dove for the black pool.

Something was rising.

At the same time Zet yelled, “Back!” A golden glow lit from somewhere off to Vincent’s left and Zet’s Manipulate Command grabbed Cloud with invisible fingers and yanked him away from the pool out of midair.

A blackish-green figure was rising out of the pool. A misshapen head with a formless body. It shrieked.

The piercing shriek…

The high-pitched whistling…

Tifa was staring at him…

Hojo breathed a deep sigh, as if what he was about to say pained him. He looked at Vincent. “She’s dead.” He didn't sound very pained at all.

“Vincent! Get away from it!” Tifa voice called him back. He looked up.

It was staring at him. Deep, green-tinted pits seemed to considering him. Vincent leapt up and brought his gun forward, summoning Hades.

In an instant, a black tendril of the thing whipped out, snagging Vincent’s claw. Vincent’s next coherent moments were only of pain and hitting the ground.

Then nothing.

“Vincent!” Tifa screamed and she started to run to him. Cid snagged her, throwing a muscled arm around her waist. “No! Stay back from it!”

“But--!”

“NO!”

The piercing shriek returned. Tifa closed her ears, sinking out of Cid’s grasp to her knees. She couldn’t hear Cid calling her name. She saw lights. Crystals. Her mother’s gray, dead face appeared before her.

“Hello, Tifa,” said her mother, with Sephiroth’s voice. “Guess who’s going to die?”

Aeris was staring at her, blood running out of her stomach. “Tiiiiiifaaaaaaaa….”

“NO!” Tifa shrieked, covering her ears. "Get out of my head!" She stumbled up, calling Neo Bahamut.

Nothing.

Yuffie unleashed a great beam of white light.

Nothing.

Zet leapt in front of Cid, Jeremiah, and Tifa, flipping her halberd forward and raising Wall as Jenova boomed something out. It slammed into the barrier, sparing them the brunt of it.

Cid summoned Ifrit.

(I will help you kill and maim. The Fiery Hells are Mine.)

Nothing.

Reno was up and running at the thing, Materia he’d borrowed from Yuffie flaring into life as he summoned Odin.

(I will help you kill and main. I am the Destoyer. Your life is Mine.)

Nothing.

Barret had Cloud pinned to the ground, using all his might to keep him there. That’s when he looked down and noticed the Materia. The orbs were swirling on their own, moving in their slots.

“Aw shit..." Barret's eyes grew wide. “Cid!” he roared.

The wreck of the monster Jenova extended black tendrils. Barret raised his gunarm.

It dove for Cloud, wrapping black limbs around his arms and throat. It stuck black-green goo to his face.

Cloud’s eyes opened wide. He was shaking, convulsing, foaming at the mouth. Barret fired at the black substance. But it seemed to do nothing. Nanaki summoned the Knights.

Nothing.

Cloud went stiff, his convulsions stopped. He froze completely, his back arching. His mouth opened.

His screaming echoed everywhere, drowning out the sounds of battle, of shouts and swearing.

Cloud’s Materia flared into life, summoning Alexander.

Holy slammed into the thing.

And then there was silence.


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