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Description
FFVII
Release

Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Emotive themes
Setting: 3 years after DoC
Rating: M
Status: WIP
OCs: 25%
Disclaimer: All related Final Fantasy VII names and characters are copyrighted © by Square Enix. However, this story and the OCs are mine. Thank you.

RELEASE

Deneh lead Denzel and Shelke on a fast dash through overhanging shadows and dark corridors, and always on a downward slope. At times the passages opened up and Denzel took the opportunity to view what he could of the city. Ivory walls reflected a greenish tinge and the seamless flow of the close set architecture was like nothing he had ever seen, and certainly nothing like the sharp-angled, iron buildings he was used to. Not having enough time to study it as much as he liked, he had to keep his eyes on Deneh ahead of him and Shelke as she raced along. At the top of a ramp leading down, Deneh halted and sniffed the air, and she looked over her shoulder at the two of them. "Stay here." She stepped tentatively before speeding out of sight.

"Hey, Shelke," Denzel stared down at her elfin face, looking with serious intent back down the corridor, keeping an eye on the wide open arches down one side, "are you okay?"

His odd query was enough to make her gaze at him with a puzzled look. "My mind is set on the task."

"Ah, yeah, that's great."

"Are you nervous, Denzel?"

His loud whisper echoed along the corridor, "Well, if I am it's only because we don't really know where we're going or what's down there or that I might actually die or you… yeah, I guess I might have reason to be nervous." He frowned, and his eyes skipped over her face. "But that's not what I was asking..."

Her eyes glimmered in the shadows and the flawless skin of her brow creased in bewilderment. "Yes?"

"It's just I never asked you about what happened after your dive and you know, I didn't want you to think..." he roughed up the hair at the back of his head in a jittery fidget, "…I wasn't interested, because I did want to know what happened to you..."

Deep blue eyes pondered him with interest, but her mouth remained rigid. "It's not really the best place to ask that."

"Yeah, I guess..." She was right. What was he thinking? It was just... maybe he was more nervous than he realized. Maybe it was something more than nerves. "But... you seemed..." he recalled the shed tears and the obvious display of emotions that were so unusual for her, and he finished weakly, "different."

Denzel and Shelke were oblivious to the return of Deneh and they stared at each other, one with sudden embarrassment and the other, earnest surprise. Deneh whispered, "There's no one ahead."

There was no time for them to continue their conversation and Denzel sighed at his ill timed remark and followed Deneh down the passage submerged in shadows. Eventually they came to a spiral stair. He peered down but could see nothing in the near darkness.

"The dungeon is this way." Deneh's fiery eyes brightened with passion.

Shelke said, "It would be to our advantage if we knew what guards were present."

"I couldn't agree more," Denzel added.

"I can't say for certain," Deneh spoke in a low rumble, "but there were a couple of soldiers and we have seen various monsters, gargoyles, wolves, screamers."

"Hopefully it won't be all of the above…" Denzel gave her a half grin, mainly to relieve his own tension.

Her eyes became slits and she nodded, taking him seriously. "I can smell a..."

"Maybe a troll," Shelke spoke quickly and under her breath, "Let's go quietly and assess the situation." She glanced at both of them. "I'll lead." Single-file they descended the stair with Denzel keeping a keen eye on Deneh's back end and tail swishing fervently. He guessed she was excited to see her mate and he couldn't blame her. He smiled. It would be nice to see Nanaki again. The stair came to an open doorway that reached the darkened ceiling several feet above them. In the dim light that must be from wall lanterns below, Denzel could see the curved roof of the massive stone cavern. They seemed to be looking out onto a half wall of a portico. Faint voices, muffled against the walls, came from below them. Shelke put a finger to her lips, and palm up, she indicated they remain while she surveyed the room. Creeping along in a squat, she left the doorway and went halfway down a ramp to their right. After some moments she came back and whispered close to their faces, "We are on an upper balcony. There are ramps, left and right, going down to the cells. There are men and a large monster."

Abrupt voices and callous jeers broke their talk. "—let's take its tail off, see if it still burns!"

Suddenly Deneh, teeth and claws bared, leaped for the wall, knocking Denzel over on his backside as she went.

Shelke hissed sharply, "Wait!"

Deneh was gone, having pounced to the ground below with a mighty roar of fury.

"Can't be helped." Denzel crouched again and shrugged at her irritated expression, wanting to race after her himself.

"Denzel," Shelke had jumped to the wall, "You occupy the troll." And she was gone.

Denzel grumbled, "I like how you say 'occupy'." He shook his head. "Troll?!" Running down the right ramp, he remembered to cast his Barrier and he stopped face to back with the huge blue-grey thick skin ugly creature. Its muscles were like rock, and hands were like boulders, and it had a small head on top that was a few feet away from the ceiling, but it was the foul stink that really repulsed him. Denzel blasted it with a hand of materia fire and the thing bellowed with pain from its sizzling back. It spun to face him, swinging its knarled club like a twig. Denzel dodged in time and its fist cracked the stone of the ramp wall. Fast on his feet, Denzel lunged away from its erratic swipes and got close enough to get multiple hits on it. The new strength in his weapon caused the creature to stagger and reel. I'll show her occupy. Just when he felt sure his next slash would be the end of it, the monster moaned pitifully and toppled sideways with a floor shaking whallop. Shelke was left standing peeking over it with one saber pointing into its vitals.

"I had him you know," he mumbled, sliding his gun-blade back into his halter.

She shrugged and lifted a brow. "We can't waste time."

Denzel noticed Deneh struggling to untie Nanaki who was lying on the floor with his four paws bound. Avoiding the newly dead men, he rushed to help them both. Nanaki was watching Denzel with his one good eye, and his mouth curved into an obvious smile even for an animal. His deep melodic voice was a calming treat. "Denzel. This is an unexpected delight."

"Yeah, we were just passing," He stripped the ropes from his legs and brushed his matted fur down, giving him an affectionate squeeze as he did. "And thought we'd drop in." He smiled and they both stood together. Nanaki came up to his waist and his deep auburn hair stuck up a little further. Denzel laid a hand on his back and glided it down his ruffled locks, feeling the rippling muscles under his soft fur and he watched his flaming tail surge with excitement. "Get you out of trouble."

Nanaki stopped at Shelke and bowed his head. "Thank you, Shelke. I owe you a great debt. Both of you."

Shelke nodded her acknowledgement and Denzel, grinning like a kid, shrugged and said, "I'm sure you'd do the same."

Deneh and Nanaki rubbed their heads together and made low murmuring noises. Their intimate greeting left a gaping silence. Shelke looked across at Denzel, and eyeing him with a childlike honesty, queried, "What do you mean different? In what way?"

His eyes settled on her intently, as he attempted to put himself back in that discussion, and wondering what it was he really wanted to say to her. "Umm…" Rarely did he ever feel so speechless and put on the spot, but she had a way of making him tongue-tied, and she had no idea she was doing it or so he assumed. What was it that was different exactly? She seemed kinder... but that might suggest she was mean before. Less cold... but what did that make her sound like – an ice maiden? More beautiful. No, he couldn't say that, she would think it was corny.

She tilted her head and her eyes probed his evasive look and his silence. "Is it a good different?"

He tensed and fidgeted with the top of his weapon as if ready to bring it out in an instant. "Yeah…" but she had always been good before. "But more than that," Damn, he wanted to say something. Something a little more meaningful, but not right there.

Nanaki interrupted their conversation as if they were talking about any old thing, with a brisk guttural growl and dashed to a wooden box. He attempted opening the lid with his two front paws. Denzel stifled a chuckle at the strange sight, although not unfamiliar, of Nanaki's great paws, prying and scratching at the clasp. Nanaki, as much as he was able, used his paws on everything, but on rare occasions it was simply beyond his capabilities. In this case, the box had a small latch. Denzel nudged his shoulder a little, shifting him and he bent to open it. The lid flung back and Denzel understood why Nanaki was so intent on it. Nanaki reached in and took out his four gold and platinum cuffs. He managed to put one on by falling on the ground with awkward jerks.

"This will take ages." Denzel took the remaining bracelets and pushed them onto his limbs.

Nanaki tilted his head and watched Denzel slip the last one over his paw. "They are very precious to me, and powerful."

Denzel shook his paw, similar to shaking a man's hand and smiled. "I'm glad they're still here than."

Deneh turned to them all and said, "We can't stay here long. We must get back."

"You're right." Shelke had an intense expression once more. "They will need our assistance up top."

Nanaki's brow creased and his fire tail flared. "Cloud and Tifa?"

"Ah, not exactly. Cloud and some other people you may know. Tifa has—" Abruptly, while Denzel spoke, Nanaki lowered his nose to the stone slabs and ran up the ramp, and they all watched him attentively.

Nanaki spoke without turning back. "We must hurry from here. There are men close by."

Shelke came up behind him, her sabers ignited again. "We'll go cautiously."

They proceeded up the same corridors and stairs, following behind Nanaki with his luminous tail-tip lighting the way, and he seemed to know exactly where he needed to go. Faint echoes of shouts came from an opening and they deduced it was safer to avoid that passage. Eventually they came out onto an open portico without any confrontation, and had a clear view of the white towers and smooth curving edifices of the city. One of the walks was level with the alcove, while another sloped upwards. Sounds of blades clashing and the tearing of rock came from a courtyard not far off, and trails of acrid smoke came from the city entrance. Shelke started on the straight path. "This will take us to Elfie."

"Look!" Nanaki had stopped and head turned and paw pointing, he indicated a scene on the circular platform on the highest tower.

Denzel squinted up and could make out Cloud fighting another man. The man soon fell to Cloud's strikes and that seemed the end of it, but a dense mist shot out from the tower and formed some type of creature several feet high and with visible deformed growths sticking out from its back, or so it seemed to Denzel. "What is that?"

Shelke frowned at the unnatural being and Nanaki looked grim. "I'm not sure."

The sight of Cloud suddenly dropping to his knees without taking any visible hits was a shocking blow.

"Cloud!" Denzel's scream echoed between the closely built towers and staircases. Unheeding of the call, Cloud slumped to the ground. The creature became more solid, and it had a long head with short horns and the contorted tumors on its back appeared to move, similar to tentacles. "Let's go." Denzel made for the upwards ramp.

Shelke grabbed his arm and stayed him. "You can't face that thing alone."

He fell back, relaxing in her grasp. "Maybe, but..." he paused and looked down at her, his expression a mix of anger and anxiety. "It's Cloud, I have to go." Cloud lying motionless filled him with dread, and it stirred his lurking misery that he had only recently been struggling with.

"I will go with Denzel." Nanaki, eye to eye with Shelke, spoke calmly and with resolve to allay her fears. "You and Deneh can assist our allies."

Shelke's lips tightened in a pale line and she studied Nanaki's steadfast gaze. Her strained expression dissolved and she yielded to his authority with a short nod. "We'll see you up there as soon as we can."

Deneh touched noses with Nanaki and said loudly for all of them. "Be courageous."

Denzel stood, restlessly jostling from one foot to the next, eager to get up top to Cloud. It was true he couldn't do much against whatever was up there, but if he could do anything to help Cloud than he would try. It was the least he could do.

Nanaki said to the girls, "Take care," and he started up the ramp, and said to Denzel, "Let us hurry."

~~ 7 ~~

After Cloud ran through the alley, Elfie turned to scrutinize the courtyard one last time. The fifty foot expanse had two rows of marble columns that supported two walkways going across and above them. Broad galleries encircled the courtyard, with an extra level on the left side. She frowned at the curved stair going up at the right side of the square and a few feet from it, another staircase went up and down with a landing separating them. Her gaze swept over the upper balconies and the waist high undulating stone balustrade guarding the walkways. The narrow ledges of the overhead bridges were a perfect place for her to assault the enemy. Finally she acknowledged Veld and Cissnei observing her, patiently. "Cissnei, you take the left side," she nodded towards the taller façade with the three tiers of deep balconies. "Dad, you take the alcoves near the double stairs—"

"I'll take the left side." Veld's dark eyes bored into hers, demanding her attention and he raised one of his black triple barrel guns up to his shoulder. His guns were uniquely powerful, but Elfie knew full-well his strength came from the mini arsenal under his jacket sleeve, hidden in his one prosthetic arm.

Undaunted by his overbearance, hands on her waist, she screwed her eyes up at him, the delicate corners twitching with irritation. "I want you to watch that second entry point where we'll be more accessible—"

"It would be more beneficial if I'm on the higher vantage point where I can oversee and guard." His eyes smoldered at her frustrated expression.

He did have a point and she knew that before he said anything, but it wasn't a case of a better strategy. It was always that way with him, asserting his own opinion, and she almost always had to yield to his point of view. "But the stair up is the weakest point," her voice turned steely.

He nodded, "True," and his eyes glinted, not phased at all by her irate stance. "But up there," he turned slightly, his deep-brown fringe hitting his eyes, and he indicated the highest balcony. "I can watch both bridges and the first entry point, plus I can see you and Cissnei."

She stared daggers at him, and ignored Cissnei, who was looking between them with rolling eyes. The familial contention would not come as a surprise to her.

Veld's expression changed to one of concern. "It hasn't been long since your last meta, your reaction to the change can be unstable—"

"I know what I'm doing." She responded in a huff. He just wanted to watch her. "I'll leave it as long as I can." She sighed, he was too damn overprotective. She was not going to be held back by him or her afflictions. The unnatural entity within her would never control her completely, even if it was eating away at her mind and body, she would continue living, relentlessly, until – she couldn't anymore.

Cissnei swung her shuriken, making her presence known, and her face dead-pan, she said, "Why don't we all just stay here," she folded her arm, and tilted her face towards the alley, "the party's going to start in less than five."

Veld gave her dry wit a half grin. "Not long." From his belt, he popped out a colored globe and flicked it over to Cissnei. "Use this on the stair."

Cissnei caught the emerald materia with her free hand, and after examining it, she smiled. "Nice." And she tucked it away in her belt.

Elfie was satisfied with that, as if she had a choice, and she looked at them, her gaze hardening. "I'll take the first point and the above bridges. Cait—" She eyed the courtyard for the strange creature. He was no where to be seen, and she demanded, "Where?"

"Out there." Veld looked towards the alley.

"I'm up for this," Cissnei said, "but we better get moving."

Elfie watched her sternly, gauging her confidence. Cissnei was one of the best assassins she had ever come across, but even she was going to be in grueling combat against an unknown quantity of opponents. "You know what you have to do?"

"Sure do." Cissnei cocked her head and her mouth made a straight line, "Kill the bad guys."

"And quickly," Elfie added and she watched Cissnei dash away with a two finger wave, and her piercing gaze fell on Veld. "You going to be fast enough?" Her smile was more of a challenge than one of mirth. He was going to be stretched covering the ground and the entry points.

Veld returned the same jocular grin. "I may not be able to run, but I can shoot my way out of anything." Looking down at her, he lifted a brow. "You sure you know what you're doing?"

"I'll do what I do best." She flung her short cape over her shoulder and drew her katana, her expression was straight and serious. "I'll see you on the other side."

He bowed his head in his type of farewell and darted away to the shadows under the eaves of the second floor balcony and a tight spiraling iron stair. Elfie stood behind the nearest column to the opening, watching Veld's faint movement through the darkness as he ran up the second curling staircase to the highest tier. While they had been discussing their plans, she had kept half an ear to the ruckus from the piazza. A lull descended and she tensed with alertness, all her senses tuned into the rippling commotion in preparation. Within moments, the mass of men erupted with angry shouts and cries. She assumed Cloud had made himself known and the mass of men were not pleased.

Veld waited against an upper pillar, his presence concealed by the overhanging shadows. She could just see his head and she spied the faint glint in his eyes as he shifted his vision between her and what he could view over the adjacent building. Cissnei, she could not see, meaning she was well hidden in the right corner. They had used this format before. It was effective for cornering the enemy, and reliable, and with the reputable skills of a supposedly powerful feline robotic it added an unpredictable element to the lethal triangle, but it was a welcomed addition. However, considering they were facing triple the amount of enemies they usually dealt with, the affect of their accumulative abilities was as yet unknown.

Sweat dampened her neck and back as she waited in calm expectation. Her body was taut for whatever would be hurtling through the passage. Man or monster. If they were lucky the enemy would charge in. Unlucky, if they strategized and worked together. Her team was experienced, superb in their individual abilities, the best martial squad to be found on the planet, yet without the help of the others, there was no way they could bring down a small force on their own without suffering some damage to themselves. Despite their skill or even gritty determination, she still had to rely on and trust people she didn't know. Her ears pricked up at the high pitched voice of the cat. His odd little accent reverberated off the stone in the cavernous landscape. "Roll up, roll up, ruffian and monster alike, come and partake in the grandest extravaganza on the planet or under it as the case may be. The illustrious Cat of Nine Lives will privilege you with a first-class free show of fire, magic and the main attraction, knife throwing! Make sure you get good seats!"

Elfie scrunched her face up at Veld in ribald annoyance that they were relying on this peculiar creature to help divert the enemy. She narrowed her eyes at him across the distance and mouthed clearly, "What is he doing?" What the hell had Reeve done to this machine?! She was glad to say, the cat was Veld's friend and not hers.

The corner of Veld's lip curved in an almost smile and he winked.

The furrow in her brow deepened at his nonchalance. There was the sound of numerous fiery explosions and Cait's shrieking carried over the top of the chaotic shouts of enraged men. Like a banshee, he screamed at the top of his voice, "You'll never take me alive!"

Sequestered behind the pillar, she gripped her sword and mentally went through the motions, preparing for whatever was going to come through. Focusing on her materia, she cast a Shield spell from a decades old materia, and she was enveloped by a heavy green film for brief moments. A burning pain was building in the back of her nerves, and it careened through her body from the tense exhilaration of waiting for battle. The uncontrollable force burst from the back of her hand, accumulating in her wrist and arm, causing her veins to ache. She reeled the power in, just a little longer. She disliked losing herself to the taint so quickly or easily. She always fought it no matter how much heightened power it gave her, she hated it; the monster instinct, the brutal strength, the feral desire to destroy.

The first glut of armed men pushed through the constricted passage. Overly large and thuggish in manner, they rushed into the seemingly empty area without plan or direction. Amid their confusion, materia shots rained down on them, scattering them in a fiery red mess. The ones not taken down by the gunfire headed towards the left, in the direction of the attack. Elfie concentrated on the materia in her glove, and opening her palm, she sent a shard of spirit energy into the remaining foe after the initial assault. Without waiting for the Ice affect to take hold, she raced in, extending her blade, intending on cutting down the frozen opponents with ease. There was little opportunity to worry about finesse and no more time to squeeze in any more materia attacks. It was time to kill as many of the enemy as she could before more came to take their place. No, she had to bring them all down.

She could already hear the faint tones of Cait Sith, again taunting the enemy with some whimsical diatribe. She hoped he was using more than just words to attack the enemy. Whirling around at heightened speed, she sliced into icy flesh, hardly noting the men's appearance, but aiming for vulnerable exposed skin for a quick kill. Elfie fought hard against a man, three heads taller and using a wide long sword that was more club than blade. Height meant nothing to her, and scowling, she pushed into him and he growled at her unyielding strength. Gunfire whipped past her, not from above, but from the first alley. Men with guns advanced to the entry and stood sentry. She raced back to the pillar and relative protection. Heavy fire hit the pillars in a blaze of rock dust, and she breathed deep, calming her pounding body. Listening to the answering shots from above and the commands being yelled by the men, her skin throbbed with escalating pain, all travelling up from her hand. She glanced down at the neat faded scar, a thick single line coming out from her short glove and going up her wrist, and she clenched her fingers into a ball, fighting the pain. Sensing the approach of her opponent, she swung one of her swords, ready for his strike. Avoiding the gun-fire and keeping behind pillars, she fought the man with the huge sword. The ammunition had arrived with force and she had to move fast and upwards.

A mighty explosion towards the right shook the ground and sent chunks of rubble flying through the air everywhere. There goes the stair. The floor trembled again, this time she sensed it was more the impact of an approaching troll or gargoyle, probably two or three. It was time for her to stop playing and do what she needed to. Drawing her blade from the fatal wound to her opponent's chest, she centered her energy on the agonizing ache nearly paralyzing her wrist. Instead of resisting it, she released it, and let the pulsing sensation consume her weary flesh. Her groans transformed to a cantankerous growl as her body stretched and twisted into a monstrous deformed creature of hairless rock hard skin. Now a hulking mass, her claw like appendages were able to throw supernatural spinning blades with incredible speed. Springing out from the columns, she landed amongst the crowd, sending them stumbling backwards with her extended blades rotating like propellers. She could risk some bullets, even take them, but there were only so many spells her altered body could endure. Amid the smoke and dust from lightning materia exploding the stone, she eliminated as many shooters as she could. The air was electrified it seemed with every type of materia spell, theirs as well as her teams. She felt the drain on her Shielding already from the force of the various elements. She leaped up to the gangway and clearer air, and perched on the stone railing. A gargoyle lumbered through and she glimpsed another not far behind. They could be lethal if allowed to utilize their natural element, as well as damage the stonework with their incredible strength. Currently, it seemed they were providing cover for the gun-fire. They would have to be taken out before they brought down the stone pillars and anything else they could smash.

She sent out a wave of pure energy pouring out from her core. The force knocked down men and monster alike. The gargoyle rose again and it received her circular blades whirling down from above. It was a pity the creature didn't fall at the entrance, but fall it did as her blades cut a bloody line across its neck and chest. On its way down it beat its hammer hands on the wall to escape. The stone cracked and splintered, and toppled down onto men's heads.

From the right, Screamers entered the fray and more armed men. The screamers went for the pillars, pounding at the stone with their chained balls. She had to focus on a second gargoyle bashing everything it could reach and making so much noise she could hear little else. She threw her spinning weapons down, and they skimmed into a fresh batch of victims. In rapid succession they came back to her and she threw them with brutal strength again, the razor edges slicing into the hide of the blue-grey monster. With its head and torso on fire, it lurched and crashed into the pillar. The walkway shook from the impact, and sections of the slab cracked and dropped to the ground. Adding to the damage, the Screamers were decimating a further column, causing the whole length to crumble and pitch, soon to collapse against the further wall. Her elevated post was no longer safe. She dashed along the balustrade, attempting to avoid gun shots, and she cast a glance to Cissnei's position. Beyond the haze of smoke and debris, she could see men fighting, probably Cissnei. Elfie considered aiding her, but in the same instance, a tremor shook the walk and it came toppling to the ground. As it fell, she jumped to the second bridge. Shots were fired at her position. She dodged and hurdled along the walk, pausing dangerously to cast her blades down at the firearms. She sensed numerous spells coming her way. Too many. She was hit by a bolt of power. It was only a matter of time. Electricity scored through her body and her growl of annoyance echoed against the stone. Surely everyone could hear it. She continued with her long range attack, determined to wipe out as many as she could before she fell. Gunfire forced her down in a flurry of arms and weapons. She half fell, half jumped to the ground. She was regenerating, but too slow for so many opponents. The bolt impaired her strength, but she took out the men armed with guns with an animalistic ferocity. She had an accumulation of injuries, not that she could recall exactly when she received them, or even how, but it was enough to know she was overburdening her body.

A stinging pain seared the inner flesh of her back. For a moment she nearly blacked out. Gathering her wits in time, she spiraled around to slice in half her foe. But it was too late to defend against the bleak fog descending in her mind. Panting deeply, she grew sluggish, but she was unwilling to fall amid men desiring her death. Even if she could get up… but the bridge had fallen away… in a near faint, she watched the great orange cat pounce on the men with a mighty roar of defiance. Following her was Shelke, waving her lit sabers and despite her size, she stabbed into the huge men, causing them to fall backwards in death. Casting her sharp black knives one more time, Elfie caught them as she stumbled to the ground, hoping that everyone else was alive, and satisfied that the ones she trusted had come through for them.

Description
FFVII
Release

Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Emotive themes
Setting: 3 years after DoC
Rating: M
Status: WIP
OCs: 25%
Disclaimer: All related Final Fantasy VII names and characters are copyrighted © by Square Enix. However, this story and the OCs are mine. Thank you.

RELEASE

Deneh lead Denzel and Shelke on a fast dash through overhanging shadows and dark corridors, and always on a downward slope. At times the passages opened up and Denzel took the opportunity to view what he could of the city. Ivory walls reflected a greenish tinge and the seamless flow of the close set architecture was like nothing he had ever seen, and certainly nothing like the sharp-angled, iron buildings he was used to. Not having enough time to study it as much as he liked, he had to keep his eyes on Deneh ahead of him and Shelke as she raced along. At the top of a ramp leading down, Deneh halted and sniffed the air, and she looked over her shoulder at the two of them. "Stay here." She stepped tentatively before speeding out of sight.

"Hey, Shelke," Denzel stared down at her elfin face, looking with serious intent back down the corridor, keeping an eye on the wide open arches down one side, "are you okay?"

His odd query was enough to make her gaze at him with a puzzled look. "My mind is set on the task."

"Ah, yeah, that's great."

"Are you nervous, Denzel?"

His loud whisper echoed along the corridor, "Well, if I am it's only because we don't really know where we're going or what's down there or that I might actually die or you… yeah, I guess I might have reason to be nervous." He frowned, and his eyes skipped over her face. "But that's not what I was asking..."

Her eyes glimmered in the shadows and the flawless skin of her brow creased in bewilderment. "Yes?"

"It's just I never asked you about what happened after your dive and you know, I didn't want you to think..." he roughed up the hair at the back of his head in a jittery fidget, "…I wasn't interested, because I did want to know what happened to you..."

Deep blue eyes pondered him with interest, but her mouth remained rigid. "It's not really the best place to ask that."

"Yeah, I guess..." She was right. What was he thinking? It was just... maybe he was more nervous than he realized. Maybe it was something more than nerves. "But... you seemed..." he recalled the shed tears and the obvious display of emotions that were so unusual for her, and he finished weakly, "different."

Denzel and Shelke were oblivious to the return of Deneh and they stared at each other, one with sudden embarrassment and the other, earnest surprise. Deneh whispered, "There's no one ahead."

There was no time for them to continue their conversation and Denzel sighed at his ill timed remark and followed Deneh down the passage submerged in shadows. Eventually they came to a spiral stair. He peered down but could see nothing in the near darkness.

"The dungeon is this way." Deneh's fiery eyes brightened with passion.

Shelke said, "It would be to our advantage if we knew what guards were present."

"I couldn't agree more," Denzel added.

"I can't say for certain," Deneh spoke in a low rumble, "but there were a couple of soldiers and we have seen various monsters, gargoyles, wolves, screamers."

"Hopefully it won't be all of the above…" Denzel gave her a half grin, mainly to relieve his own tension.

Her eyes became slits and she nodded, taking him seriously. "I can smell a..."

"Maybe a troll," Shelke spoke quickly and under her breath, "Let's go quietly and assess the situation." She glanced at both of them. "I'll lead." Single-file they descended the stair with Denzel keeping a keen eye on Deneh's back end and tail swishing fervently. He guessed she was excited to see her mate and he couldn't blame her. He smiled. It would be nice to see Nanaki again. The stair came to an open doorway that reached the darkened ceiling several feet above them. In the dim light that must be from wall lanterns below, Denzel could see the curved roof of the massive stone cavern. They seemed to be looking out onto a half wall of a portico. Faint voices, muffled against the walls, came from below them. Shelke put a finger to her lips, and palm up, she indicated they remain while she surveyed the room. Creeping along in a squat, she left the doorway and went halfway down a ramp to their right. After some moments she came back and whispered close to their faces, "We are on an upper balcony. There are ramps, left and right, going down to the cells. There are men and a large monster."

Abrupt voices and callous jeers broke their talk. "—let's take its tail off, see if it still burns!"

Suddenly Deneh, teeth and claws bared, leaped for the wall, knocking Denzel over on his backside as she went.

Shelke hissed sharply, "Wait!"

Deneh was gone, having pounced to the ground below with a mighty roar of fury.

"Can't be helped." Denzel crouched again and shrugged at her irritated expression, wanting to race after her himself.

"Denzel," Shelke had jumped to the wall, "You occupy the troll." And she was gone.

Denzel grumbled, "I like how you say 'occupy'." He shook his head. "Troll?!" Running down the right ramp, he remembered to cast his Barrier and he stopped face to back with the huge blue-grey thick skin ugly creature. Its muscles were like rock, and hands were like boulders, and it had a small head on top that was a few feet away from the ceiling, but it was the foul stink that really repulsed him. Denzel blasted it with a hand of materia fire and the thing bellowed with pain from its sizzling back. It spun to face him, swinging its knarled club like a twig. Denzel dodged in time and its fist cracked the stone of the ramp wall. Fast on his feet, Denzel lunged away from its erratic swipes and got close enough to get multiple hits on it. The new strength in his weapon caused the creature to stagger and reel. I'll show her occupy. Just when he felt sure his next slash would be the end of it, the monster moaned pitifully and toppled sideways with a floor shaking whallop. Shelke was left standing peeking over it with one saber pointing into its vitals.

"I had him you know," he mumbled, sliding his gun-blade back into his halter.

She shrugged and lifted a brow. "We can't waste time."

Denzel noticed Deneh struggling to untie Nanaki who was lying on the floor with his four paws bound. Avoiding the newly dead men, he rushed to help them both. Nanaki was watching Denzel with his one good eye, and his mouth curved into an obvious smile even for an animal. His deep melodic voice was a calming treat. "Denzel. This is an unexpected delight."

"Yeah, we were just passing," He stripped the ropes from his legs and brushed his matted fur down, giving him an affectionate squeeze as he did. "And thought we'd drop in." He smiled and they both stood together. Nanaki came up to his waist and his deep auburn hair stuck up a little further. Denzel laid a hand on his back and glided it down his ruffled locks, feeling the rippling muscles under his soft fur and he watched his flaming tail surge with excitement. "Get you out of trouble."

Nanaki stopped at Shelke and bowed his head. "Thank you, Shelke. I owe you a great debt. Both of you."

Shelke nodded her acknowledgement and Denzel, grinning like a kid, shrugged and said, "I'm sure you'd do the same."

Deneh and Nanaki rubbed their heads together and made low murmuring noises. Their intimate greeting left a gaping silence. Shelke looked across at Denzel, and eyeing him with a childlike honesty, queried, "What do you mean different? In what way?"

His eyes settled on her intently, as he attempted to put himself back in that discussion, and wondering what it was he really wanted to say to her. "Umm…" Rarely did he ever feel so speechless and put on the spot, but she had a way of making him tongue-tied, and she had no idea she was doing it or so he assumed. What was it that was different exactly? She seemed kinder... but that might suggest she was mean before. Less cold... but what did that make her sound like – an ice maiden? More beautiful. No, he couldn't say that, she would think it was corny.

She tilted her head and her eyes probed his evasive look and his silence. "Is it a good different?"

He tensed and fidgeted with the top of his weapon as if ready to bring it out in an instant. "Yeah…" but she had always been good before. "But more than that," Damn, he wanted to say something. Something a little more meaningful, but not right there.

Nanaki interrupted their conversation as if they were talking about any old thing, with a brisk guttural growl and dashed to a wooden box. He attempted opening the lid with his two front paws. Denzel stifled a chuckle at the strange sight, although not unfamiliar, of Nanaki's great paws, prying and scratching at the clasp. Nanaki, as much as he was able, used his paws on everything, but on rare occasions it was simply beyond his capabilities. In this case, the box had a small latch. Denzel nudged his shoulder a little, shifting him and he bent to open it. The lid flung back and Denzel understood why Nanaki was so intent on it. Nanaki reached in and took out his four gold and platinum cuffs. He managed to put one on by falling on the ground with awkward jerks.

"This will take ages." Denzel took the remaining bracelets and pushed them onto his limbs.

Nanaki tilted his head and watched Denzel slip the last one over his paw. "They are very precious to me, and powerful."

Denzel shook his paw, similar to shaking a man's hand and smiled. "I'm glad they're still here than."

Deneh turned to them all and said, "We can't stay here long. We must get back."

"You're right." Shelke had an intense expression once more. "They will need our assistance up top."

Nanaki's brow creased and his fire tail flared. "Cloud and Tifa?"

"Ah, not exactly. Cloud and some other people you may know. Tifa has—" Abruptly, while Denzel spoke, Nanaki lowered his nose to the stone slabs and ran up the ramp, and they all watched him attentively.

Nanaki spoke without turning back. "We must hurry from here. There are men close by."

Shelke came up behind him, her sabers ignited again. "We'll go cautiously."

They proceeded up the same corridors and stairs, following behind Nanaki with his luminous tail-tip lighting the way, and he seemed to know exactly where he needed to go. Faint echoes of shouts came from an opening and they deduced it was safer to avoid that passage. Eventually they came out onto an open portico without any confrontation, and had a clear view of the white towers and smooth curving edifices of the city. One of the walks was level with the alcove, while another sloped upwards. Sounds of blades clashing and the tearing of rock came from a courtyard not far off, and trails of acrid smoke came from the city entrance. Shelke started on the straight path. "This will take us to Elfie."

"Look!" Nanaki had stopped and head turned and paw pointing, he indicated a scene on the circular platform on the highest tower.

Denzel squinted up and could make out Cloud fighting another man. The man soon fell to Cloud's strikes and that seemed the end of it, but a dense mist shot out from the tower and formed some type of creature several feet high and with visible deformed growths sticking out from its back, or so it seemed to Denzel. "What is that?"

Shelke frowned at the unnatural being and Nanaki looked grim. "I'm not sure."

The sight of Cloud suddenly dropping to his knees without taking any visible hits was a shocking blow.

"Cloud!" Denzel's scream echoed between the closely built towers and staircases. Unheeding of the call, Cloud slumped to the ground. The creature became more solid, and it had a long head with short horns and the contorted tumors on its back appeared to move, similar to tentacles. "Let's go." Denzel made for the upwards ramp.

Shelke grabbed his arm and stayed him. "You can't face that thing alone."

He fell back, relaxing in her grasp. "Maybe, but..." he paused and looked down at her, his expression a mix of anger and anxiety. "It's Cloud, I have to go." Cloud lying motionless filled him with dread, and it stirred his lurking misery that he had only recently been struggling with.

"I will go with Denzel." Nanaki, eye to eye with Shelke, spoke calmly and with resolve to allay her fears. "You and Deneh can assist our allies."

Shelke's lips tightened in a pale line and she studied Nanaki's steadfast gaze. Her strained expression dissolved and she yielded to his authority with a short nod. "We'll see you up there as soon as we can."

Deneh touched noses with Nanaki and said loudly for all of them. "Be courageous."

Denzel stood, restlessly jostling from one foot to the next, eager to get up top to Cloud. It was true he couldn't do much against whatever was up there, but if he could do anything to help Cloud than he would try. It was the least he could do.

Nanaki said to the girls, "Take care," and he started up the ramp, and said to Denzel, "Let us hurry."

~~ 7 ~~

After Cloud ran through the alley, Elfie turned to scrutinize the courtyard one last time. The fifty foot expanse had two rows of marble columns that supported two walkways going across and above them. Broad galleries encircled the courtyard, with an extra level on the left side. She frowned at the curved stair going up at the right side of the square and a few feet from it, another staircase went up and down with a landing separating them. Her gaze swept over the upper balconies and the waist high undulating stone balustrade guarding the walkways. The narrow ledges of the overhead bridges were a perfect place for her to assault the enemy. Finally she acknowledged Veld and Cissnei observing her, patiently. "Cissnei, you take the left side," she nodded towards the taller façade with the three tiers of deep balconies. "Dad, you take the alcoves near the double stairs—"

"I'll take the left side." Veld's dark eyes bored into hers, demanding her attention and he raised one of his black triple barrel guns up to his shoulder. His guns were uniquely powerful, but Elfie knew full-well his strength came from the mini arsenal under his jacket sleeve, hidden in his one prosthetic arm.

Undaunted by his overbearance, hands on her waist, she screwed her eyes up at him, the delicate corners twitching with irritation. "I want you to watch that second entry point where we'll be more accessible—"

"It would be more beneficial if I'm on the higher vantage point where I can oversee and guard." His eyes smoldered at her frustrated expression.

He did have a point and she knew that before he said anything, but it wasn't a case of a better strategy. It was always that way with him, asserting his own opinion, and she almost always had to yield to his point of view. "But the stair up is the weakest point," her voice turned steely.

He nodded, "True," and his eyes glinted, not phased at all by her irate stance. "But up there," he turned slightly, his deep-brown fringe hitting his eyes, and he indicated the highest balcony. "I can watch both bridges and the first entry point, plus I can see you and Cissnei."

She stared daggers at him, and ignored Cissnei, who was looking between them with rolling eyes. The familial contention would not come as a surprise to her.

Veld's expression changed to one of concern. "It hasn't been long since your last meta, your reaction to the change can be unstable—"

"I know what I'm doing." She responded in a huff. He just wanted to watch her. "I'll leave it as long as I can." She sighed, he was too damn overprotective. She was not going to be held back by him or her afflictions. The unnatural entity within her would never control her completely, even if it was eating away at her mind and body, she would continue living, relentlessly, until – she couldn't anymore.

Cissnei swung her shuriken, making her presence known, and her face dead-pan, she said, "Why don't we all just stay here," she folded her arm, and tilted her face towards the alley, "the party's going to start in less than five."

Veld gave her dry wit a half grin. "Not long." From his belt, he popped out a colored globe and flicked it over to Cissnei. "Use this on the stair."

Cissnei caught the emerald materia with her free hand, and after examining it, she smiled. "Nice." And she tucked it away in her belt.

Elfie was satisfied with that, as if she had a choice, and she looked at them, her gaze hardening. "I'll take the first point and the above bridges. Cait—" She eyed the courtyard for the strange creature. He was no where to be seen, and she demanded, "Where?"

"Out there." Veld looked towards the alley.

"I'm up for this," Cissnei said, "but we better get moving."

Elfie watched her sternly, gauging her confidence. Cissnei was one of the best assassins she had ever come across, but even she was going to be in grueling combat against an unknown quantity of opponents. "You know what you have to do?"

"Sure do." Cissnei cocked her head and her mouth made a straight line, "Kill the bad guys."

"And quickly," Elfie added and she watched Cissnei dash away with a two finger wave, and her piercing gaze fell on Veld. "You going to be fast enough?" Her smile was more of a challenge than one of mirth. He was going to be stretched covering the ground and the entry points.

Veld returned the same jocular grin. "I may not be able to run, but I can shoot my way out of anything." Looking down at her, he lifted a brow. "You sure you know what you're doing?"

"I'll do what I do best." She flung her short cape over her shoulder and drew her katana, her expression was straight and serious. "I'll see you on the other side."

He bowed his head in his type of farewell and darted away to the shadows under the eaves of the second floor balcony and a tight spiraling iron stair. Elfie stood behind the nearest column to the opening, watching Veld's faint movement through the darkness as he ran up the second curling staircase to the highest tier. While they had been discussing their plans, she had kept half an ear to the ruckus from the piazza. A lull descended and she tensed with alertness, all her senses tuned into the rippling commotion in preparation. Within moments, the mass of men erupted with angry shouts and cries. She assumed Cloud had made himself known and the mass of men were not pleased.

Veld waited against an upper pillar, his presence concealed by the overhanging shadows. She could just see his head and she spied the faint glint in his eyes as he shifted his vision between her and what he could view over the adjacent building. Cissnei, she could not see, meaning she was well hidden in the right corner. They had used this format before. It was effective for cornering the enemy, and reliable, and with the reputable skills of a supposedly powerful feline robotic it added an unpredictable element to the lethal triangle, but it was a welcomed addition. However, considering they were facing triple the amount of enemies they usually dealt with, the affect of their accumulative abilities was as yet unknown.

Sweat dampened her neck and back as she waited in calm expectation. Her body was taut for whatever would be hurtling through the passage. Man or monster. If they were lucky the enemy would charge in. Unlucky, if they strategized and worked together. Her team was experienced, superb in their individual abilities, the best martial squad to be found on the planet, yet without the help of the others, there was no way they could bring down a small force on their own without suffering some damage to themselves. Despite their skill or even gritty determination, she still had to rely on and trust people she didn't know. Her ears pricked up at the high pitched voice of the cat. His odd little accent reverberated off the stone in the cavernous landscape. "Roll up, roll up, ruffian and monster alike, come and partake in the grandest extravaganza on the planet or under it as the case may be. The illustrious Cat of Nine Lives will privilege you with a first-class free show of fire, magic and the main attraction, knife throwing! Make sure you get good seats!"

Elfie scrunched her face up at Veld in ribald annoyance that they were relying on this peculiar creature to help divert the enemy. She narrowed her eyes at him across the distance and mouthed clearly, "What is he doing?" What the hell had Reeve done to this machine?! She was glad to say, the cat was Veld's friend and not hers.

The corner of Veld's lip curved in an almost smile and he winked.

The furrow in her brow deepened at his nonchalance. There was the sound of numerous fiery explosions and Cait's shrieking carried over the top of the chaotic shouts of enraged men. Like a banshee, he screamed at the top of his voice, "You'll never take me alive!"

Sequestered behind the pillar, she gripped her sword and mentally went through the motions, preparing for whatever was going to come through. Focusing on her materia, she cast a Shield spell from a decades old materia, and she was enveloped by a heavy green film for brief moments. A burning pain was building in the back of her nerves, and it careened through her body from the tense exhilaration of waiting for battle. The uncontrollable force burst from the back of her hand, accumulating in her wrist and arm, causing her veins to ache. She reeled the power in, just a little longer. She disliked losing herself to the taint so quickly or easily. She always fought it no matter how much heightened power it gave her, she hated it; the monster instinct, the brutal strength, the feral desire to destroy.

The first glut of armed men pushed through the constricted passage. Overly large and thuggish in manner, they rushed into the seemingly empty area without plan or direction. Amid their confusion, materia shots rained down on them, scattering them in a fiery red mess. The ones not taken down by the gunfire headed towards the left, in the direction of the attack. Elfie concentrated on the materia in her glove, and opening her palm, she sent a shard of spirit energy into the remaining foe after the initial assault. Without waiting for the Ice affect to take hold, she raced in, extending her blade, intending on cutting down the frozen opponents with ease. There was little opportunity to worry about finesse and no more time to squeeze in any more materia attacks. It was time to kill as many of the enemy as she could before more came to take their place. No, she had to bring them all down.

She could already hear the faint tones of Cait Sith, again taunting the enemy with some whimsical diatribe. She hoped he was using more than just words to attack the enemy. Whirling around at heightened speed, she sliced into icy flesh, hardly noting the men's appearance, but aiming for vulnerable exposed skin for a quick kill. Elfie fought hard against a man, three heads taller and using a wide long sword that was more club than blade. Height meant nothing to her, and scowling, she pushed into him and he growled at her unyielding strength. Gunfire whipped past her, not from above, but from the first alley. Men with guns advanced to the entry and stood sentry. She raced back to the pillar and relative protection. Heavy fire hit the pillars in a blaze of rock dust, and she breathed deep, calming her pounding body. Listening to the answering shots from above and the commands being yelled by the men, her skin throbbed with escalating pain, all travelling up from her hand. She glanced down at the neat faded scar, a thick single line coming out from her short glove and going up her wrist, and she clenched her fingers into a ball, fighting the pain. Sensing the approach of her opponent, she swung one of her swords, ready for his strike. Avoiding the gun-fire and keeping behind pillars, she fought the man with the huge sword. The ammunition had arrived with force and she had to move fast and upwards.

A mighty explosion towards the right shook the ground and sent chunks of rubble flying through the air everywhere. There goes the stair. The floor trembled again, this time she sensed it was more the impact of an approaching troll or gargoyle, probably two or three. It was time for her to stop playing and do what she needed to. Drawing her blade from the fatal wound to her opponent's chest, she centered her energy on the agonizing ache nearly paralyzing her wrist. Instead of resisting it, she released it, and let the pulsing sensation consume her weary flesh. Her groans transformed to a cantankerous growl as her body stretched and twisted into a monstrous deformed creature of hairless rock hard skin. Now a hulking mass, her claw like appendages were able to throw supernatural spinning blades with incredible speed. Springing out from the columns, she landed amongst the crowd, sending them stumbling backwards with her extended blades rotating like propellers. She could risk some bullets, even take them, but there were only so many spells her altered body could endure. Amid the smoke and dust from lightning materia exploding the stone, she eliminated as many shooters as she could. The air was electrified it seemed with every type of materia spell, theirs as well as her teams. She felt the drain on her Shielding already from the force of the various elements. She leaped up to the gangway and clearer air, and perched on the stone railing. A gargoyle lumbered through and she glimpsed another not far behind. They could be lethal if allowed to utilize their natural element, as well as damage the stonework with their incredible strength. Currently, it seemed they were providing cover for the gun-fire. They would have to be taken out before they brought down the stone pillars and anything else they could smash.

She sent out a wave of pure energy pouring out from her core. The force knocked down men and monster alike. The gargoyle rose again and it received her circular blades whirling down from above. It was a pity the creature didn't fall at the entrance, but fall it did as her blades cut a bloody line across its neck and chest. On its way down it beat its hammer hands on the wall to escape. The stone cracked and splintered, and toppled down onto men's heads.

From the right, Screamers entered the fray and more armed men. The screamers went for the pillars, pounding at the stone with their chained balls. She had to focus on a second gargoyle bashing everything it could reach and making so much noise she could hear little else. She threw her spinning weapons down, and they skimmed into a fresh batch of victims. In rapid succession they came back to her and she threw them with brutal strength again, the razor edges slicing into the hide of the blue-grey monster. With its head and torso on fire, it lurched and crashed into the pillar. The walkway shook from the impact, and sections of the slab cracked and dropped to the ground. Adding to the damage, the Screamers were decimating a further column, causing the whole length to crumble and pitch, soon to collapse against the further wall. Her elevated post was no longer safe. She dashed along the balustrade, attempting to avoid gun shots, and she cast a glance to Cissnei's position. Beyond the haze of smoke and debris, she could see men fighting, probably Cissnei. Elfie considered aiding her, but in the same instance, a tremor shook the walk and it came toppling to the ground. As it fell, she jumped to the second bridge. Shots were fired at her position. She dodged and hurdled along the walk, pausing dangerously to cast her blades down at the firearms. She sensed numerous spells coming her way. Too many. She was hit by a bolt of power. It was only a matter of time. Electricity scored through her body and her growl of annoyance echoed against the stone. Surely everyone could hear it. She continued with her long range attack, determined to wipe out as many as she could before she fell. Gunfire forced her down in a flurry of arms and weapons. She half fell, half jumped to the ground. She was regenerating, but too slow for so many opponents. The bolt impaired her strength, but she took out the men armed with guns with an animalistic ferocity. She had an accumulation of injuries, not that she could recall exactly when she received them, or even how, but it was enough to know she was overburdening her body.

A stinging pain seared the inner flesh of her back. For a moment she nearly blacked out. Gathering her wits in time, she spiraled around to slice in half her foe. But it was too late to defend against the bleak fog descending in her mind. Panting deeply, she grew sluggish, but she was unwilling to fall amid men desiring her death. Even if she could get up… but the bridge had fallen away… in a near faint, she watched the great orange cat pounce on the men with a mighty roar of defiance. Following her was Shelke, waving her lit sabers and despite her size, she stabbed into the huge men, causing them to fall backwards in death. Casting her sharp black knives one more time, Elfie caught them as she stumbled to the ground, hoping that everyone else was alive, and satisfied that the ones she trusted had come through for them.