Kristin and Lacey finally stopped talking and decided to get
some sleep, so they put down their crystals and again were left
alone. Lacey sat that way-in front of the fire for a long time.
She wondered how Sephiroth felt, how he was-surely he knew. She
so badly wanted to pick up the crystal and see him, but she was
afraid of what he would say or do.... Lacey sighed. "I will
see him soon enough.."
She trailed off as again she looked up at the stars. A week till
the festival...... The moon would be full and.... Again Lacey
began to think of the last festival she celebrated.
They all danced around the huge bonfire in the city square of
Junion. Most people slept, but not the Cetra. The square was
filled with the last people of the Ancients. They all celebrated
the Festival of the Wind Goddess. Lacey sat with her parents on
their porch enjoying the festivities, and reading a letter that
was sent from Kristin. At the time Kristin was twelve, and Lacey
was eight.
Lacey's parents read her the letter.
--- Hey family! I'm sorry to miss the festival this year, but I
will be coming home soon. The archeologist I am studying with has
found many artifacts in the City of Ancients. I will bring some
thing special home just for you little sister!br>
---love Kristin----
Lacey grinned. She really missed her big sister. Just as Lacey
had put down the letter a package had come for her. Lacey opened
it and looked inside. the package held her shacrum shiny and new,
but it was weird because even at eight she knew how to use it.
Lacey had just finished playing with her new "toy" when
the people around the fire began to scream.
Many soldiers walked into the square. "Where are lab
scientists number 426 and 528?" a man shouted in the
distance. Lacey's parents quickly ran into the house bringing her
with them. They sat Lacey on the kitchen table. "Lacey we
want you to go and hide somewhere now go and don't turn back."
Lacey ran out the back door like she was told and hid behind the
big oak tree out back.
Lacey saw her parents step outside toward the dark figure, which
was standing near the towns mako reactor. They stood in front of
the man and he opened the door to the reactor. The monsters came
flooding out and began to attack her parents. Lacey never saw who
the figures were, but she knew now that they were members of
soldier. Lacey jumped out of the tree and ran towards her parents.
She used her new weapon like she was born to wield it.
Some men came running out of no where to help her, but she had
already killed most of the monsters herself. After her parents
were buried, the men introduced themselves as members of Soldier
and told Lacey that they would make her a hero and would give her
a home. Being a hero was every child's dream so of course Lacey
went with them.......
"And so began my life and it determined my future."
Lacey said aloud. She still dreamed of that night-thinking that
if she had not stayed in that tree her parents would still be
alive.... "There was nothing you could do Sheyala."
Lacey spun around. Who was that? Then she finally looked down at
her crystal-it was Vincent.
"Aye, it has indeed your majesty."
Lacey sketched a bow and sat up again. "Oh cut the crap! You
needn't bow to me," Vincent said, embarassed.
Lacey smiled. "I suppose your right, how are you two going?"
Lacey said with a touch of sarcasm in her voice. She truly did
miss her friends.
"Well fine, but our general isn't doing to well, a case of
heartbreak I think."
Lacey inclined her head so that Vincent could not see her face.
"Well, I'll just have to come and see for myself, but first
I have to finish something." Vincent nodded. "Oh and
send Natalie my best wishes, but don't tell" Lacey was cut
off by a noise that came from the bushes. She turned around, the
vision of Vincent fading.
Lacey had her shacrum ready and out, but what she saw was nothing
related to danger. "Oh Anya, I have missed you so."
Lacey said and hugged the neck of her friend.
"Saber, you truly have traveled further than I thought.
Lacey looked down at Anya's paws, they were cut and worn from
travel. Lacey took out some water and cure materia and healed
them. Anya walked further into the clearing and sat. "You
have missed a little bit" Anya said as she howled. Black
star and four half grown wolf pups came out from the bushes.
Lacey smiled. "Oh Anya, they are truly beautiful."
Lacey, Black Star, Anya, and the pups lay down near the sleeping
girls. All of them needed a short rest.
Gea awoke and sat up, it was almost dawn and she put her arm
behind her into something that was warm and fuzzy. She thought it
was Just her blanket, but when she turned around she saw a
massive cream colored breathing mass-she let out a large scream
that awoke everyone in the camp with a start. Lacey practically
jumped onto Anya trying to get up, but realized that no one was
there. Lacey made her way over to Gea.
"Shh it's ok, this is my pack." Gea and Ayanna looked
around at the magnificent animals. There were two HUGE wolves
standing about them. One was pure white and the other was more of
a cream color. Then beyond the fire there was four normal sized
wolves. Lacey pointed to the four pups. "Those four are just
babies, and these two here," She pointed to Anya and Black
Star, "are my friends Anya and Black Star."
Gea hesitantly put her hand out to pet Black Star, and smiled at
the soft feel of the fur. Lacey smiled. Ayanna was just about to
pet Anya, when she started to talk. "Where to Saber?"
Anya asked.
Ayanna froze. "She talks?"
Lacey nodded. "Ayanna, Gea would you please untie the reins
from the chocobos. We will be riding the wolves from now on."
Lacey said.
Both girls nodded and freed the chocobos. Lacey put her pack on
her back, and tied the rest to Black Star. Then she sat Gea and
Ayanna on top of him. "Gea, Ayanna, hold on to the packs so
that you don't falloff, and Black Star run slowly so that they
don't fly off." Black Star nodded and bent over so that the
girls could climb on, then Lacey mounted Anya.
"Oh, by the way the pups are named Saber, the two boys are
Nago, and Mikal, and the two girls are Sephica, and Mica."
Lacey patted Anya's head. "All beautiful names Anya"
Lacey said and directed Anya to the North, they would reach the
city in a day now that they were riding wolves. Lacey was happy,
she was united with her friends again.