Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“That should be the last of them.” Aerith noted as she finished unpacking the moving boxes. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she placed the dishes from the box into the cupboard. The move from the East Continent to the West Continent had taken a good week, but it was well worth the travel. Well for Aerith’s and Jessie’s case, poor Yuffie had suffered from her motion sickness the entire drive. Mainly they packed their personal items as the house was still fully furnished. Yuffie, the ever treasure loving young adult, was giddy at the discovery of the furniture being antique, 18th-century. This stuff could go for a fortune! I never realized you were the owner of such a place! 

It had been a month since her adopted mother, Elmarya had passed, and Aerith decided it was time to leave Midgar and return to her old home in Nibelheim. The manor was an old 16th century mansion that had been in her family for a few decades now. It was her early childhood home, but when her birth mother, Ifalna, had passed, she became the new owner of the estate. Sadly being a six year old child, she could not live on her own and was put into the foster system, where Elmerya adopted her and she was moved to Midgar. Now, fourteen years later she was finally returning home. 

A fresh start she had told her friends. Yuffie and Jessie, were quick to jump at a chance of traveling the world.  ‘We’ve been besties since childhood, no way are you leaving me behind .’ Were the words Jessie had said to her when she had told them, the other brunette deciding then and there that she was going to go with Aerith. Yuffie, egard to be away from her father, begged Aerith to let her move with them. Even if Nibelheim was a backwater town, the move had been refreshing, leaving behind the polluted city for some fresh crisp air, had been worthwhile.  

Humming to herself Aerith broke down the box and placed atop the others. Yuffie and Jessie had disappeared up to the upper floor to claim their rooms, while Aerith finished unpacking boxes. Aerith had already reclaimed her old bedroom. The old manor had barely changed since she last lived here, sometimes it felt like she never left, and her mother would come waltzing around the corner humming a tune, as she carried a tray of tea. She would catch herself every now and then glancing over her shoulder as if another person was there, but it remained empty. 

Light footsteps padded towards her, and Aerith turned to greet their owner. 

“Hey, Aer. What’s with the two doors by your room?” Jessie asked, as she jumped up and seated herself on the counter top. “I tried to open them but the knobs wouldn't budge. Looking through the keyhole, they looked like bedrooms.”  

Aerith knew exactly what doors Jessie was talking about. “Hmm. I think they were locked when I was little too. My mom said they’d been sealed since the seventeen hundreds- but I don’t know if that is true or not. I could never find the keys to open them.” Ever since she could remember those doors had been locked. Of course; she had looked for the keys, and even the master key would not work on those two doors. Her mother would chide her, when she would catch Aerith trying, saying that some things were best left alone, and not to snoop in others' privacy. 

“Weird.” Jessie muttered. “I didn’t see any cobwebs or dust though.”

“I don’t know.” Aerith chuckled, as a thought crossed her mind, “Maybe we have some housekeeping ghosts.” 

Jessie shuddered, “Please, don’t mention anything ghost related. Just thinking about it gives me the hibijibis!” Jessie looked around the kitchen and leaned towards Aerith, stage whispering, “I already feel like I’m being watched.”

Aerith laughed, her voice sounding like wind chimes. “Might just be the old house feeling, but I get what you mean. Sometimes it feels like someone’s there, I keep looking over my shoulder every now and then expecting to see another.” 

Jessie shivered, “Enough ghost talk, Aer. I’m getting paranoid.”

“Okay~” Aerith giggled with a sing songy voice, “Has Yuffie picked out her room?” 

“Yeah, I think she’s finished unpacking her things.” 

A knock on the front door echoed throughout the lower floor, and Jessie jumped, a tiny startled, yip escaping her. Before she moved her head around wildly looking for the source.  

“I guess we have visitors.” 

“Let’s hope for the visible kind!” 

Heading through the dining room and entering the foyer, Aerith cracked the front door open just a tiny hair and peeked at the person. Thankfully it was the visible kind. Outside was a gorgeous young woman with long black hair tied back in a ponytail. She was wearing black shorts and a white crop top, which really showed off her well toned body. 

“Can I help you?” Aerith finally found her voice. Familiar, warm wine-red, eyes looked towards Aerith. “Tifa? Is that you?” Opening the door more, Aerith stepped out onto the porch. 

Tifa’s eyes widened and a blinding grin took over her face. “When they said someone moved into Strife Manor, I wasn’t expecting it to be you!” Tifa wasted no time in developing Aerith in a bone crushing embrace. “It’s been fourteen years, Aerith! Look at you! I never thought I would see you again!” Tears of happiness welled up in her eyes as she pulled Aerith in for another hug. One of the hardest parts about leaving Nibelheim was leaving behind her closest friend, Tifa. Sure they wrote letters to each other whenever they got the chance, but the last two months Aerith hadn’t been able to find a way to put into words what was happening in her life. 

Pulling away Tifa, kept her hands on Aerith’s shoulders. “You should have told me you were coming back!”

“I -a lot happened, I just decided about two weeks ago I was going to move back here.” 

Before she could continue though Jessie bounced over to them. “Oh thank the goddess it is the visible kind! When you didn’t come back I thought ‘Aer’s been kidnapped by a ghost!’” Jessie stopped beside Aerith and looked over the guest. “Whose this?” 

Aerith smiled and motioned towards Tifa, “This is Tifa, we’ve been best friends since childhood.” Turning her smile towards Tifa she motioned at Jessie, “This is Jessie, she’s one of my best friends! Yuffie is still upstairs, but she’s also one of my friends. They moved with me from Midgar.” 

Tifa shook Jessie's hand, “It's nice to put a face to the name.” 

“Ditto.” 

Bashfully Aerith played with a loose string on her sundress, “Would you like to come in? We haven’t finished dusting, but the white sheets, that covered the furniture, have been removed so it's a little neater.” 

Tifa smiled, “I would love too! I haven’t been in here since that day.”

Leading Tifa and Jessie back into the house, Aerith watched as her oldest friend took everything in. Nothing had really changed, just the editions of new personal items that belonged to each of the girls.

“You still have the tea set I gave you!” Tifa paused in front of the china cabinet that displayed many different tea sets, some that were well over a few hundred years in age. Aerith remembered her mother used to be an avid collector of the fine porcelain wares. 

Nodding her head, Aerith joined Tifa’s side. “I wasn’t allowed to take it with me, but I’m happy to see everything is still here.”

“It’s weird this place sat unoccupied for fourteen years… if this was in Midgar; it would have long been broken into and everything of value stolen.” Jessie voiced up, it was true, rather odd that the place wasn’t broken into in all the time that passed. 

“That’s because the people of Nibelheim are scared of Strife Manor. No one dares go near it.” Tifa informed, “You all are already the talk of the town. Crazies that are daring enough to move into the manor.” 

Jessie tilted her head, “Strife Manor?” She looked towards Aerith, “You’re real last name Strife?” 

Aerith shook her head, “No. The manor was named after the original noble family that built it. My mother’s family bought it when the last of the Strife family died.” 

“Oh.” 

Aerith, let out an airy chuckle as Tifa and Jessie started talking. When her mother was alive she had promised to tell Aerith the full history of Strife Manor, when she was old enough. Sadly, Ifalna passed, before she could. Now, Strife Manor was just a big mystery, full of secrets and history she may never learn. Odd that the village would think her home was cursed, something unfortunate must have happened to make the villagers superstitious of it. Maybe she could stop at the local archive, once they were settled in, that is if Nibelheim even had one. Surely someone had info on manor. 

“Tea Parties!”  Yuffie’s sudden exclamation, pulled Aerith from her thoughts. She hadn’t even realized the older teen had joined them. 

“Huh? What about tea parties?” Aerith asked, rejoining the conversation that was going on between the other three. 

Tifa shot Aerith with a smile that had the burnette’s heart racing a little. “I was telling them about the tea parties you and I used to have in the backyard.” 

Aerith beamed and clasped her hands together, “Oh yes! With Zack and Cloud! Those were some of my happiest memories!” 

Jessie and Yuffie both huh , and mirrored each other with confused head tilts. “Zack and Cloud? Are they also some of your childhood friends?” 

Aerith shook her head, “No~ they were mine and Tif’s imaginary friends!” 

Yuffie cackled. “Imaginary friends you both saw?”  

“Yup!” Aerith chirped, her mind flashing back to two charming, handsome gentlemen, who were always at hers and Tifa’s beck and call. The hours spent playing, tea party,  hide and seek or tag. It really was great having imaginary friends that her best friend could also see and talk too.They were the fantasy princes that both girls read about in fairy tales. Gloomy Aerith wished she could see them again, but when she had left Nibelheim, her imaginary friends disappeared. 

Jessie’s face paled and she shuddered. “I uh… that’s… creepy. No offense.”

“I guess it is a little odd that we could both see them.” Tifa mused, following the other three girls into the fully furnished sitting room. Aerith remembered her mother briefly calling it the blue room, for the walls were painted with solid deep blue flowers and vines on a white backdrop. Even the sofas and armchairs were a deep rich blue in color. 

Yuffie bounced in her spot, “Were they like crazy creatures; like a water dragon? Do tell! Do tell!” Clearly she was not as freaked out as Jessie was over these imaginary friends. Aerith thought back to their conversation in the kitchen, her friend was not a big fan of the unseen. 

“They were like fairy tale princes!” Tifa took the words right out Aerith’s mouth. The Raven haired beauty seemed to ponder something before finally speaking up again. “Cloud had spikey blonde hair and the most beautiful sky blue eyes, he was the bashful one of the two. Now- Zack- he was taller than Cloud, his hair was jet black and spikey also, with the most vivid violet eyes. He was energetic and mischievous, would get us in trouble with Ms. Ifalna. But he was a real gentleman.” It sounded like she was lost in a distant memory. Aerith too was losing herself to the memories. When her mom was busy and Tifa not able to come over she would spend hours playing with the two. She frowned to herself, as a hollow feeling took over her chest. Was it silly to miss imaginary friends? A cold icy feeling, like a hand, gently caressed her cheek, and Aerith realized a stray tear had slipped from her eyes. 

Standing up, Aerith chirped, “I’m going to go make some tea!” And fled from the others. 

Yuffie lost interest, when Zack and Cloud turned out to be normal humans, and changed the subject. “So, you grew up here?” is all Aerith heard as she left the sitting room. 

Waiting for the kettle to heat, Aerith looked out the back window into the back yard, once it had been well maintained now it was overgrown with wild flowers. The ancient weeping willow that her and Tifa used to lay under for hours or climb still stood its leaves swaying with the breeze. 

Her emerald eyes focused on the tall, moss covered granite, stones that stood not too far from the tree, six circling around the tallest one in the center. Her eyes remained glued to the center stone, as a distant haunting melody drifted around her, calling and beckoning like a long lost lover. So many years ago she found her mother laying before that stone. Her face pale, but full of peace, as if she had fallen asleep and decided to never wake again. At the time Aerith, did not even realize she was gone. Sitting beside her mother's cold body shaking her shoulders and begging for her to wake up. Tifa found them that way and had rushed off to fetch Mr. Lockhart. Only when, Aerith was pried away from her mother, and the medics placed her in a black bag, and carried her away, did Aerith realize; her mother was never sleeping. After that she was placed into the foster system, and left her home in the Nibel Mountains behind. 

The screeching of the kettle caused her to startle and bang her knees against the side of the counter. The breeze outside seemed to say; Easy there Aer.   Hissing in pain, Aerith rubbed her knees and grabbed some different teas, and placed them alongside the cups and kettle, on the tray. 

Balancing the tray, she started back towards her three friends. Careful. Pausing before she left the kitchen, she furrowed her brows and looked over her shoulder. It really felt like someone had spoken to her just now, the voice sounded like it was from a distant memory, one that she couldn't quite place. 

Chapter Text

‘Mama? Papa, where are you?’ 

The storm outside had long since died out, but screams still continued.

'It is so dark. Mama? I am scared.'

The clouds overhead shifted, and allowed a sliver of moon light to cascade down upon the wet center stone. Bathing it in an unearthly glow, and revealing two forms that lay propped against it, clad in their night clothes. 

‘Mama! Papa!’ 

Copper everything smelt like tangy copper, it assaulted her senses to the point she could taste it. Slipping on the wet grass her hands shook her mother’s shoulders. Her mother’s head lulled to the side before the little bit of skin that still held it in place ripped, and it came tumbling down, and wide unseeing eyes looked up at her blankly. 

‘My dear, Lady Strife. My deepest condolences on the passing of your parents.’ 

Darkness

Then slowly eerie glowing green feline-like eyes opened. 

'There you are.'  

Aerith bolted upright, her chest heaving, as she kicked the blankets away and hugged her knees to her chest. It was that nightmare again, but this time, she could hear everything loud and clear. How many weeks had she had it now? Two? Maybe three? It had been a month since they had moved into the manor, and her nightmares started about a week after. 

The nightmares weren’t the only thing to start. At first it started with little things, a random knock here or there, footsteps, the feeling of being watched every now and then. Now there was more and more activity, doors opening and closing, voices that echoed from empty rooms, shadows out of the corner of the eye, objects being moved and cold spots. All three girls discovered very fast that Strife Manor was in fact haunted, by whom they had no clue. 

Jessie had been utterly terrified at first, placing salt across all thresholds in her room, and burning sage. She kept herself locked in her room for a few days after her first encounter. She had been watching one of her romcoms in the living room, when a deep hearty laughter of a man sounded behind her. 

Yuffie was taking it way better than Jessie, having ordered a bunch of paranormal investigating stuff, though Aerith wouldn’t let her set any of it up. The most encounters she had were just footsteps and shadows, and the younger woman complained about it, daily. How none of the cool stuff happens to her. 

Tifa, seemed to be taking the fact that Aerith's home was haunted in great stride, and Aerith wondered if it was because the locals all swore the place was cursed.  Thinking back to Tifa’s first encounter with their invisible occupants, Aerith smiled. It was rather comical, even though at the time it had been terrifying. It was one of the nights Tifa decided to stay over, she went to shower, and while she was in the process of redressing the door opened, no one was there, but a soft male voice stuttered sorry, and the door hastily closed, with rushed footsteps retreating. 

At least he was a gentleman about it. Tifa teased, after telling them about the encounter. Now, courtesy of Jessie, all the bathroom doors had a sign that said; KNOCK FIRST! 

Aerith rolled over and started at the ceiling. For her it was different. She could feel them, almost all the time, and sometimes she could hear them clear as day, other times it was like their words appeared in her mind. She discovered that there were only two in the manor; one was a ball of mischievous energy, while the other was more shy and bashful and over powered by its companion. Both meant no harm, and when she told Jessie that, the other girl finally left her room. 

Thump, Thump, Thump

Aerith sat up and looked towards her door, and much like the first time she had heard them, the footsteps paused just outside, before the sound of the door across from her opened and closed. That was another thing, the two locked doors -across from her room- would open and close on their own, yet when any of the girls tried them, they wouldn’t budge. Aerith remembered catching Yuffie attempting to lock pick one- the end result had been the same- the doors remained shut.  

Out of her friend’s Aerith was the last one to have an encounter, yes she could sense them but they never did anything around her that was until one stormy day, her first encounter happened, and it had been a scary one; 

Aerith hummed a tune that; had been stuck in her head for the last few weeks, as she went about folding the laundry. She could not remember where she heard the tune from, but the melody was soft and mournful, but beautiful. Almost haunting. She wondered if the lyrics were just as sad, but had yet to find any that fit. Outside the wind howled and thunder rumbled in the distance, as dark grey clouds hung heavy over head. 

Down stairs Tifa and Jessie were busy making dinner, while Yuffie was down the hall taking a shower. Aerith finished the last of her clothes and placed them in their respective drawers, stretching she moseyed over to her book shelf, figuring a little reading before dinner wouldn’t hurt. 

Choosing a book she lounged back on her bed and flipped it open to where it was currently bookmarked. 

She barely got a few sentences in, when heavy footsteps passed by in the hall and paused just outside her door. Yuffie must be done, she thought and waited for the energetic girl to burst in. Focusing back on her book, she heard the soft audible creak of a door opening, followed by a  click as it closed. 

That wasn’t right. Sitting upright, Aerith looked towards her closed door. The noise had come from the door across from hers. One of the two locked doors. There was no plausible way that it could open or close. Yuffie had even tried to pick the lock, to no success. Aerith’s room, and the two locked rooms, were located on the very ends of the west side of the manor. The only reason someone would be down here was to come to her room. 

Cautiously she creeped towards her door and peeked through the keyhole. 

The hallway was dim, and a little light was emerging from under the door across from hers. So far she didn’t spot anyone, in the distance she could still hear the shower running, and Yuffie singing off key. Maybe she was hearing things. As she was planning to return to her book. She saw it. 

Just briefly the light that emerged from under the other door dimmed; like something had walked in front of it, before lighting back up. Aerith watched intently, making sure it just wasn’t her eyes or mind playing tricks. When it happened again. This time the shadow went back the way it had first gone. 

Like someone pacing. Aerith thought, as she watched the phenomenon happen a few more times. Carefully Aerith opened her door, and crept out into the hall and towards the opposite door. Taking a deep breath and mustering up the courage to peek through the keyhole, Aerith leaned in. 

Thump, Thump, Thump

. 

Someone passed by again, and Aerith caught sight of a buttoned up, long sleeved shirt tucked neatly into black breeches, with a elegant deep blue vest over the top of the white shirt. She felt like she should know the face that went with those clothes. It was obviously a well dressed man, but before she could angle herself to look up at the stranger's face, she came eye to eye with a vivid violet colored eyeball that peeked back at her through the keyhole.

Her mouth went dry, goosebumps reforming and the hairs on the back of her neck stood. The world seemed to slow, as she realized what exactly she was seeing. 

A startled scream echoed around the empty hallway, and Aerith threw herself away from the door and bolted down the hallway. Taking the stairs two at a time, she did not look back as she rushed into the kitchen and hid behind Tifa.

Afterwards all four girls marched towards the door, Jessie and Tifa armed with spatulas and Yuffie still soaking wet from the shower with just a towel wrapped around her. Tifa threatened to kick the door in, before she could Aerith reached over and knocked. 

Each girl had waited with bated breaths. Then from the other side came shuffling and the scrapping of a chair, followed by heavy boot falls that stopped just at the door.  No one moved, from either fear or curiosity, they waited for the door to open, but it never did. Instead a bitter cold breeze washed over them and then was gone, just like that, replaced by the humid summer air. 

Aerith ran her hands over her arms feeling goosebumps rising at the memory. After that encounter, the two spirits made themselves known to her more. Sometimes when she would loose or misplace something, the item she was looking for would appear at her door later. 

Deciding to finally rise from bed, Aerith slipped on her house slippers, and padded down the stairs, and into the kitchen. Inside the manor was silent, only the chirps of the morning birds from outside filtered in. Retrieving the tea kettle, she filled it and placed it on the stove, before retreating to the blue sitting room. 

She paused just outside the entryway. Was someone humming? Tilting her head closer to the archway, she kept her breathing low and listened. 

“The gardener's son was standing by

Three flowers he gave to me

The pink, the blue, and the violet too

And the red, red rosy tree

And the red, red rosy tree.”

Aerith’s eyes widened and she held back the gasp that wanted to escape. The humming had turned into someone singing. It was a young man’s voice, a soft and melodious tenor, that carried the tune perfectly. 

“But I refused the red rose bush

And gained the willow tree

That all the world may plainly see

How my love slighted me

How my love slighted me.” 

Soft humming ended the song, and Aerith, not thinking, started clapping. 

A startled gasp, almost made her giggle- who knew ghosts could also be spooked- but Aerith felt the presence quickly fading. 

“Oh don’t go!” She pleaded, “It was beautiful, and your voice is so lovely.” she felt the others energy shifted, lingering, he was curious she realized, stepping into the empty sitting room, she gave a reassuring smile. 

“I didn’t mean to startle you. Truly it was lovely.” 

It's fine. It was so shy, barely even there.

Aerith’s smile widened, she opened her mouth to reply, only to have the screeching of the tea kettle sounded throughout the quiet. The spirit took that as his chance and completely vanished on her. “Oh…” She sighed in disappointment, at the loss of the other. 

Speed walking back to the kitchen she pulled the kettle off and went about making her tea.

Tea in hand she stepped out the back door and onto the patio, taking a seat on the top step, she watched the sun rise. As the morning light bathed the stone circle, Aerith shivered, her nightmare resurfacing at the sight of them. Hot tea spilt down her fingers burning her. Hissing she quickly placed the cup down, and used the edge of her dress to dry her hand. She hadn't realized she was shaking so bad. Long ago the sight of those stones to her was always mythical, now they scared her. 

“Come all you fair and tender girls

That flourish in your prime

Beware, beware

Keep your garden fair

Let no man steal your thyme

Let no man steal your thyme.”

That voice again. This time it drifted with the breeze, and soothed her frayed nerves. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she calmed herself. When she opened her eyes again; it was then that she saw them, amongst the willow leaves, a flash of blonde and black huddled close together, so brief that she almost missed them. Rubbing her eyes she looked back towards the tree, only to see the green leaves. 

She was once again alone with just a song on the wind. 

“Jessie said I could find you back here.” Tifa’s voice spoke up from behind her. 

Looking up from her gardening, Aerith gave the other girl a large smile. “Did she now?” standing up and brushing the dirt from her skirt, Aerith hugged her friend. “I wasn’t expecting you here today.” 

Tifa returned the hug, “I still have to get back and open the bar, but Jessie texted me saying you’ve been off all morning.” Pulling away Tifa kept her hands firmly planted on Aerith’s shoulders, and a leveled look. “Are they bothering you?” 

“No… its not them.” Aerith answered, when she realized she could sense the spirits, she told her friends about it. Yuffie called her a ghost whisper or something along those lines, to be honest Aerith had no clue when it came to ghost stuff. It was just there, a six sense. 

“Then what is it?” Tifa asked. 

Aerith hesitated, “I-I’ve been having these dreams…” She thought about how to word it so she didn’t sound insane. “They’ve always been, like a silent movie playing out, where I’m just an observer. There is one though… where I see from someone else's perspective… Last night, I could hear everything said.” 

Tifa pulled her in for another hug and rubbed circles along  her back. “Oh Aerith.” She whispered. 

Aerith wrapped her arms around Tifa’s waist and buried her face in the crook of her neck, and breathed in the scent of fresh bread, and vanilla. “Tifa, why do the locals fear Strife Manor?”  It had been a question at the forefront of her mind for quite sometime now. Beside the weird dreams the place was only a little haunted.

Tifa tensed a tiny bit. “Well it's because…” She bit her lip. “Because a lot of strange disappearances and deaths have happened here. Your mother’s death included.” Separating away from Aerith, Tifa continued. “I asked the old Archives Keeper Mister Morgan, and his words were that the place is cursed by the fairy folk. Locals that go inside are violently attacked, some even driven to insanity. I don’t know how to feel about the last part. The old man offered to find all the records he could about the Manor.” She tried to smile encouragingly, “Might give us a little hint about our little ghosties.” 

Aerith just hummed, so far nothing had attacked them, if anything their resident ghosts were just like having roommates. “My nightmare from last night…” She finally spoke up, “I was a young girl looking for my parents…” Her emerald eyes flickered towards the stone circle, and focused on the center one. “I found them by the center stone… they were dead… and the stone was bathed in their blood.” She shuddered as the nightmare reared its ugly head and the stone before her was once again painted a bloody crimson.  

Tifa gasped, and laced her fingers with Aerith’s. “Was there anything that might have said who they were?” 

“There was a woman’s voice… It was so cold and full of malice. It said, ‘My dear, Lady Strife, My deepest condolences on the passing of your parents.’... I-” She shook her head to clear her mind of that poisonous voice. 

“Lady Strife… Well that’s not too helpful considering the Strife family built this manor back in the sixteen hundreds.” 

“Yeah…” Aerith sighed, looking to change the subject she brought up the other event from this morning. “I heard one of them singing.” 

“Yuffie or Jessie?” Tifa picked up on her cue that that part of the conversation was over. 

“Not them. Them .” 

Tifa’s wine colored eyes widened, “What? No way! Which do you think it was?” 

“Hmm. Shy Marshmallow.” 

Tifa giggled, “Shy Marshmallow?” 

“His presence is always so soft and squishy like a marshmallow, plus he’s shy. I almost always miss him when he's around. So I call him Shy Marshmallow. He’s the one you first encountered. The other I call the Puppy, he's energetic and playful like one, and very outgoing. I’ve noticed he’s the one we mainly deal with.” Aerith explained and grinned when Tifa giggled more.  

“His voice was really beautiful, I wish I could hear more.” she let out an airy sigh. 

Tifa reached up and tucked a stray lock that had escaped Aerith’s braid, back behind her ear, “Well you never know, might hear him again.” 

Aerith blushed, but gave her a bashful smile, “Yeah, maybe we can have Yuffie try and do some voice recording. Though I’m a little nervous to hear it.” 

“Worth a shot.” Tifa glanced down at her watch and let out a groan. “I gotta get to the bar. I’ll come back tonight alright?” 

“Sounds good!”

Chapter Text

I am a woman of doire,

The folk have stolen me over again,

the stones seemed to say

I stood within the circle, and wind did rise,

and the sound of thunder rolled across the land,

I placed my hands upon the tallest stone

and traveled to a far, distant land,

where I lived for a time among strangers

who became lovers and friends

But one day, I saw the moon came out

and the wind rose once more,

so I touched the stones

and traveled back to my own land

and took up with the man, I had yet to meet

"It's time for you to wake, little one."

“No Yuffie.” Tifa’s exasperated voice drifted from the dining room. “We are not making a web series out of this.” 

Yuffie groaned, “But think of all the views we can get!” 

Aerith set up from the blue sofa, and stretched. She most of fallen asleep while waiting for Tifa to show. They decided to start their ghost investigation tonight, Yuffie spent most of the afternoon scurrying around the manor setting up equipment. Now all they were doing was waiting for the cover of night. Standing up Aerith started towards the dining room, to join the other three. 

“Yuffie… I rather not have to beat ghost hunters off with a broom, should they find out about this place.” Jessie replied.

“Aerith! Tifa and Jessie are being mean!” 

Aerith paused in the archway and hid a tiny giggle behind her hand. Her three friends were currently seated at the long wooden table, with some of Yuffie’s ghost hunting equipment, mainly laptops. Where she found the Gil for all this, was another mystery that Aerith didn’t feel like exploring. Taking the empty chair next to Tifa, Aerith yawned and stretched. 

“Did you have a nice nap?” Tifa asked. 

“Yeah I did, could have sworn someone was talking to me though, but I can’t remember.” Aerith looked at all the others, "So we ready for tonight?" 

Yuffie started bouncing in her seat and first pumped the air.  "Oh yeah! I even got a camera set up facing towards the stone circle just incase something happens out there! The master bed room has a camera too, the sun room, and the basement. I also braved the attic, that place is chock-full of things! Did peek through some of the trunks up their and I'll say they're definitely worth going through! ." 

Aerith hummed and leaned back in her chair, “So do you know what you're doing?” 

Yuffie pshed,  “Of course I do, I watch those ghost hunting shows… So how hard can it be?”

Apparently it's really hard. Especially when the ghosts refuse to cooperate. 

Sitting in front of the two doors with an audio recorder in hand, Aerith sat beside Jessie asking questions. It was nearing midnight by now and they had been seated there for the last two hours, in the pitch dark. Yuffie and Tifa had taken up the lower levels of the house deciding to split up, while Jessie and Aerith took the upper floor, Jessie begging Aerith to stick together. 

Aerith had yet to feel any presence at all, it was like the two ghosts were nothing but figments of their imaginations. Playing coy and hard to find. Maybe it was a bad idea after all, maybe their ghosts did not enjoy the prying that the girls were doing. 

“What year were you born?” Jessie asked, waiting for almost a minute before she voiced up another question. “Were you servants or part of the family?” 

Another pause, and still nothing. No movement from the rooms, no cold spots. Nothing. 

Jessie sighed and placed the recorder beside her, “Anything Aer?” 

Aerith just shook her head, and answered, “Nothing. I can’t sense them at all.” 

Jessie studied the two doors. “Think I can slip the recorder under?” She finally asked and started scooting towards the door- where Aerith had seen her first encounter. Crawling after her, Aerith pressed close to the other’s side. Slowly Jessie started to slide the recorder under the door.

And then she felt it. Cold dread washed over Aerith as a prickling sensation started at the back of her neck. Turn your head slowly. Her mind spoke, there is something at the end of the hall. Turning her head towards the end of the hall- that led to the staircase. 

She saw it. 

The shadows twisted and turned as if they were alive and from the inky darkness; two glowing green eyes stared back at her.  

And then the sound followed. 

Click… Click… Click… 

Like the claws of a beast tapping against the hardwood floor, they approached slowly and menacingly. Click... Click... Click... Something was padding towards them. Its claws scrapping against the floor, with each step. Something that was large, and radiated pure evil. 

“Jessie… reach up slowly and open the door.” Aerith’s voice came out a strangled whisper, just barely audible. 

“Why? Are you sensing something? This door doesn't op-'' Jessie fell silent as she finally noticed what Aerith was watching, and Aerith felt her friend tense and start to shiver. 

The hallway was soon filled with the stench of rotten eggs, and corpses and Aerith tried not to gag as it washed over her, and burned her eyes. 

The shadow and eyes were getting closer and the sounds of deep growls and ragged breath joined the taps of claws. 

Jessie started breathing faster, panicking, taking over.  Every fiber of Aerith’s being was screaming to flee, to put as much distance between that thing and them. 

But they were trapped. 

The closest door to them was the locked one right in front of them. Her door was a good three feet away, but Aerith had a sinking feeling that if they did any fast movement, that thing would be on them. 

Without thinking Aerith reached up and twisted the knob. It moved, and the door swung open. Scurrying inside, Aerith slammed it shut and leaned heavily against the door barricading it with their bodies. 

A growl permeated the air and the door shook, as the creature lunged towards them. All screams from the two girls, refused to escape and cold dread clamped itself over their vocals. The sound of splintering wood reached their ears as the thing rammed into the door again. Hot air seeped under the crack, and ghosted over their backs, as the thing started sniffing them through the door. Snarls and growls echoing every now and then as the creature dug at them from the otherside. 

Jessie sputtered and started sobbing. Chanting over and over again how she didn’t want to die. Aerith tried hard to quell the fear that wanted to take over. It didn’t make sense. She had never felt this thing before, it had never made its presence known until now. Was that why their two ghosts were so silent tonight? What changed? Were they mad about them deciding to investigate? Was this the thing that killed her mother? 

Tears spilled down Aerith’s face as she hugged Jessie close, and the door shook more. 

“Shh. Shhh I got you two.” Someone soothingly muttered, and Aerith felt strong arms envelope around her and Jessie. Fingers carded through her hair, as a warm male voice, whispered soothing comforters over and over again. “You’re fine, it can't get in here. Deep breaths. Deep breath, Aer.” Aerith relaxed a little, but flinched the creature let out another growl, and hit the door again. “Cloudy, a little help, Sunshine…” A long pause from the man. “Love? I am kind of occupied at the moment.” 

Footsteps echoed outside, and the creature hissed, before the sound of claws retreated down the hall, and the feeling of despair evaporated. Aerith blinked, back her tears, from the bedroom window the moonlight seeped in giving her enough light to see the other two occupants. Looking at her friend, Aerith noticed that at some point Jessie had fainted, before she looked towards the man that had comforted them. 

Violet eyes sparkling with mischief met hers. 

“There we go.” He whispered, a bright blinding grin emerged on the man’s handsome face, as he looked at Aerith. He looked so familiar. From his wild untamed raven locks shining in the moonlight, to his honey kissed tan skin. The X-scar on his left cheek and elegant clothes he wore. Something in Aerith’s terror fogged mind was screaming that it knew him.

Beside him another person started to appear, and he was just as familiar with wild spiky blond locks that defied gravity, and those crystal blue eyes. 

“Gone?” The ravenette asked, turning his attention to the blonde. 

 The blonde wasn’t even paying attention to the two girls as he asked, “How did she get out?” The raven haired man shrugged in reply. “Ifalna sealed her, did she not?” When the blonde finally spoke, Aerith instantly recognized his voice as the one who was singing just the other day. Wait her mother sealed what? That thing? Wait where did it go? 

"I still do not understand why it fears you, Sunshine." The blonde shrugged in answer, his hand slowly reaching out to cup the other's cheek. "I'm fine. Really. Where'd it scamper off too?"

"Lower levels." 

Aerith’s eyes widened, “M-My other two friends they’re down stairs… are they okay?” 

Blondie finally glanced at her, his cold eyes warming slightly. Before his next words threw a bucket of ice over Aerith, “It's only after you.” 

Warm sunlight bathed over Aerith and she squirmed a little under the heavy weight that draped across her. The creaking of a bed echoed around her, and slowly Aerith cracked her eyes open, to keep the light from hurting them too much. When had she made it back to her bed? Beside, or rather on top of her Jessie was sprawled out across her, still sound asleep. 

When had…

The events from last night swam right through the forefront of her mind and Aerith realized immediately she was not in her room.  Panic wash through her, before she remembered fully everything that happened. They were safe. Puppy and Marshmallow had saved them. Craning her head around as best as she could, Aerith took in her surroundings.

Much like Jessie had pointed out when they first moved here, there was not a lick of dust or cobweb. It felt like the room was still lived in. 

A bookshelf was right across from her, every shelf filled with old leather and fabric bound spines. Pushed towards the window, right beside the nightstand, was a desk cluttered with old yellowed papers, an inkwell and quill, and a few books stacked up to one side. There was a beautiful wooden box that was set to the other end. The chair was an ancient armchair, whose fabric was faded from age, once it looked like it was a beautiful deep blue. To the corner of the room- by the door- set a weapons rack with multi rapiers and swords, all well polished and not an ounce of rust on them. A wardrobe and vanity set to the opposite side of the door, and Aerith noticed at the foot of the bed was a trunk. Beside her on the nightstand the audio recorder was placed. 

The air shifted, and suddenly her senses were flooded with warmth. Oh good you are awake! seemed to bounce around the room, chipper energy becoming contagious and making her smile when she realized it was the Puppy. 

“Is this your room?” She whispered, low enough not to wake Jessie. 

Yes. Sorry for the mess, not used to having guests. As if to emphasize it the papers on the desk fluttered and shuffled as if someone was pushing them into a stack. 

“You opened the door for us last night didn’t you?” 

Puppy paused and Aerith felt a cool breeze crease her cheek. Yes. As much as I like my privacy… I could not let that thing have you.  

Aerith’s eyes widened slightly, as she realized, the true reason why they couldn’t open the doors. Puppy and Marshmallow prevented it… these rooms were theirs. Did her mother know? 

Your friends are looking for you.

Your friends are looking for you. Might be best to warn them... We will try to keep it at bay. She’s most powerful on nights of the full and new moons. … he paused, My suggestion, go find an inn room to stay at  on those nights. 

“Don’t worry we’ll be out of your hair as soon as I get Jessie awake, Puppy.” Aerith clamped her mouth shut. She hadn’t meant for the nickname to slip. 

True to his nickname, Aerith could feel the confused puppy-like head tilt. Puppy?

Clearing her throat and refusing to look in the direction of the energy, Aerith gently shook Jessie awake. She really did not feel like explaining their cutesy nicknames to Puppy.

Jessie stirred and suddenly set up with a startled gasp and grabbed the pillow behind her and banished it like a shield. 

Quickly Aerith reassured her. “We’re okay, Puppy and Marshmallow saved us.” 

Marshmallow? 

Slowly Jessie lowered the pillow and looked around. “Wait, isn't this the… How in the world? Aerith last night wasn’t a dream was it.” 

“No.” Finally fully able to sit up, Aerith stretched and climbed out of the bed. “Want me to make your bed?” Jessie raised a brow, as if to ask what the hell she was talking about. 

Nah, I got it. 

Nodding at the answer, Aerith retrieved the audio recorder and held it up between two fingers, “Is it okay if we let them listen?” A shrug. She’d take that as a yes. Turning to Jessie she motioned towards the door with her head. Jessie taking her cue, dropped the pillow and scrambled off the bed and out the door. “Ah… see or rather feel you around, Puppy.” She giggled again as she heard a whine at the use of the nickname. He was a cutie, she’d give him that. 

As soon as the door was shut behind them both girls could hear footsteps on the other side that approached the wall where the bed was. 

“Guess he really doesn’t mind making the bed…” Aerith giggled. “Wish he could do mine.” 

Beside her Jessie gasped and latched onto her arm, turning around Aerith saw what exactly had her friend so started. Claw marks, as long as her arm and wide as hers and Jessie’s bodies put together, were gouged deeply into the wall between the two doors, shredding through the wallpaper and wood, as if they were made of butter. 

Aerith shivered, as she felt it.

A third presence lurking within the shadows watching them. Waiting. 

A deep hunger for blood.

Her blood. 

Chapter Text

“Wait let me get this straight… Something tried to attack you, and Marshmallow and Puppy saved you?”

Aerith nodded, the morning had passed by rather quickly, Yuffie and Tifa, having only gotten a few hours of sleep after they felt they had enough of ghost hunting. Especially when nothing seemed to happen. Currently all the girls were seated in the dining room, while Yuffie poured over the hours of footage and audio, groaning with boredom when every room so far had no activity. Jessie and Aerith finally felt it was time to tell the other two about what happened, and show them the evidence. Though if large ass claw marks weren’t enough evidence then what else would be. 

“It was terrifying.” Jessie shivered goosebumps forming on her arms. “I think I fainted right after we got through the door.” 

“Yeah you did.” 

Jessie shivered again, and Yuffie looked up from her laptop. “Well, are you going to describe it?” 

“All I saw was shadows and glowing green eyes that were slitted.” Jessie hugged herself, and bit her lip, as the memory sent a tremor down her spine. “And the Goddess awful smell” 

“Well there are lovely claw marks between Marshmallows and Puppy’s doors. If you want to look.” Aerith supplied, shriving again, they almost got shredded by that thing. 

“ Marshmallows and Puppy’s doors? Claw marks? Why the hell did you not wake us?” Tifa snapped, more so in concern for their safety than anger. 

“I think I blacked out.. From overload on my mind… one moment I was leaning against the door with Puppy hugging us, and talking to Marshmallow, the next I woke up in his bed with Jessie.” 

Yuffie snorted in amusement, “Sounds like a bad drunken college night.”

“Yuffie this is serious!” Tifa snapped again, this time banging her fist down on the table. “The locals are right, this place is cursed. You guys need to leave.” 

Aerith sighed, and lowered her eyes. She couldn’t leave, she hadn’t even told them what she heard. Somehow her mother was tied to this, and now Aerith too. Gaia be damned if she was not going to become invested in this. She had so many questions that she wanted answers to. Tifa must have seen her crestfallen expression because the younger woman sighed. 

“Can we listen to the audio?” She asked Yuffie, holding up the audio recorder that Aerith had given them that morning. 

Yuffie held up a hand. “One sec… you know how we found the camera at the stone circle knocked over? Well…I’m almost to the e-HOLY FUCKING EVERYTHING LEVAITHAN!” Yuffie, eyes the size of dinner plates and pale as a sheet, shoved back against her chair, and tumbled backwards with it, a loud thump as she hit the wood floor. 

“YUFFIE!” The other three shouted as they darted out of their chairs to help her. 

“What was it?” Jessie asked, refusing to look at the laptop screen. 

Yuffie stood up with the help of Tifa and fixed her chair. “To be honest I have no fucking clue what I just saw but I’m calling a Wutai priest.” She looked at Aerith. “You better be happy I love you! I would pack up and run back to Midgar or better yet Wutai.” Clicking a few buttons Yuffie replied the last seven minutes of the video. 

At first nothing of interest happened, but then stepping out from behind one of the cornerstones a woman emerged. She was dressed in nothing but a sheer cloth that wrapped around her naked form. It was hard to tell- with the night vision mode- what color her hair was other than it was long almost past her knees, lighter and reflected the moonlight. 

Slowly she glided towards the center stone and knelt. Clasping her hands together in what looked like a prayer, her hair cascading around her. The stone before her rippled, and seconds ticked by before one long misshaped arm reached out from it, clawing the empty air, until it sunk into the ground. The thing heaved itself from the stone and sprawled before the woman. 

Aerith felt bile raise up the back of her throat when the creature finally stood. On all fours; its two front arms long and misshapen with long claws that looked sharp enough to carve stone, all four limbs were like those of an animal's hindlegs. Its head was shaped like a canine, though its nose looked to almost be pig like with its silted snout. Aerith noted the stretched thin mouth that was riddled with sharp pointed fangs, that protruded past the nonexistent lips. The moon reflected on long liquid tendrils that dripped from the creature's mouth. But it was the eyes that scared her the most, glowing brightly in the moonlight two feline-like eyes stared intently at the camera. Eyes that had just hunted her and Jessie the night before. 

The woman knelt and petted its mangled head affectionately, before pointing towards the camera. The creature cocked its head, and then like a spider, it scurried forwards on all fours knocking into the camera. The last thing that ended on the screen was a silted pupil against the lens. 

Tifa let out a startled yelp, Jessie still refused to look at the screen, and Yuffie had a death grip on her arm. Aerith just stood there eyes wide, her mind trying to process what it had just seen. That twisted thing was what she saw in the hallway. Shivering Aerith reached over and exited out of the media player. 

Three pairs of eyes followed her every movement. 

Jessie was the first to speak, her voice quaking with fear. “That was the thing from last night?” 

Aerith nodded. “So do we still want to listen to the audio or go out for some lunch.” Frankly she was hoping they would be willing to go out. She could still feel that thing in the house, though it was weak. It lurked somewhere, where she had yet to pinpoint it.

Yuffie grimaced. “Might as well rip the whole bandaid off… I’m already scared as fuck.”  Taking the audio device from Aerith, she plugged it in and pulled up the file. “What time would you say this all happened?”

“A little after midnight.” 

Jessie, latched onto Tifa this time, since Yuffie was preoccupied with surfing through the file. Minutes ticked by and Aerith shifted, she was starting to get uncomfortable. Personaily she would rather not have to relive those growls. Part of her wanted to pack up and return to Midgar but the other half wanted to stay.Tifa reached over and took her hand, lacing her fingers with Aerith's. She gave a reassuring squeeze, and didn’t let go. 

Jessie’s voice broke over the laptops speakers making Jessie jump. ‘ What’s your favorite color?’

There was a pause and no reply was given. A few more questions were asked only to be met with radio silence. 

‘What year were you born?’

‘Were you servants or part of the family?’

Aerith squeezed Tifa’s hand…  it was the questions right before everything happened. 

Another pause, and still nothing. No reply. At least she had been right about that part. Puppy and 

Marshmallow had been silent. 

Jessie sighed and the sound of the recorder thunking, as it was placed on the ground, ‘Anything Aer?’

Aeith’s voice filtered through the speakers next. ‘Nothing. I can’t sense them at all.’

‘Think I can slip the recorder under?’

The scraping of the recorder sliding across the ground, as it was slid under the door. 

Click… Click… Click… echoing

‘Look what we have here, my dear lovely pet.’ A woman’s voice echoed through the system, and Aerith gasped. She heard that voice before, when its owner mockingly said its condolences, to a Lady Strife. A tremor wracked through her, she never sensed a fourth presence that night.

 ‘Are you hungry, my sweet dear ?’

The sound of more claws on the ground. 

“Jessie… reach up slowly and open the door.” Aerith’s voice came out a strangled whisper, just barely audible on the recorder. 

“Why? Are you sensing something? This door doesn't op-''

deep and menacing snarls, now accompanied the claws. They could hear the door handle rattle as it was turned and the creaking of the door as it opened. 

‘Feast my lovely!’

The slamming of the door and the pounding of feet Aerith and Jessie’s screams. Aerith hadn't even realized they were screaming last night. 

For a few minutes it was nothing but the snuffing, and growls of the beast as it dug at the wood, and slammed against the door, and Jessie and Aerith’s sobs. 

A man’s voice- Puppy’s voice- finally flittered over the speakers clear as day just like Aerith had heard the night before “Shh. Shhh I got you two. You’re fine, it can't get in here. Deep breaths. Deep breath, Aer…Cloudy, a little help, Sunshine…” A long pause from the man. “Love? I am kind of occupied at the moment.” 

Footsteps echoed outside. ‘Oh piss off will you? You’re stinking up my home…Gross, even left drool on the floorboards.’  Marshmallow deadpanned. Aerith wanted to laugh at that. While her and Jessie were fearing for their lives, he sounded so bored and unfazed by the whole thing.  

The creature hissed, before the sound of claws retreated down the hall. ‘That’s what I thought… You better hide.’

‘There we go.’ Puppy whispered. Another momentary pause ‘Gone?’ 

‘How did she get out? Ifalna sealed her, did she not?’

‘I still do not understand why it fears you, Sunshine… I'm fine. Really... Where'd it scamper off too?’

‘Lower levels.’

Aerith’s voice stuttered, interrupting them. “M-My other two friends they’re down stairs… are they okay?”’

“It's only after you.” Marshmallow stated so matter of factly. Aerith couldn’t remember what happened next. 

A thump echoed. 

‘Good going, Cloud- you made her faint.’ Puppy barked, shuffling followed by a soft ow and a whinny Cloudy. 

‘Let’s move them to your bed.’ 

 There was some shuffling from the other side, and the creaking of the bed. Aerith wondered how much energy they had to exert to physically touch and move them like that. 

Marshmallow's voice, ‘Now, help me get this thing locked in one of the unoccupied rooms.’ 

Yuffie paused the audio and three pairs of eyes turned towards Aerith. Aerith was still trying to process what room they had currently that was unoccupied and the only one that came to mind was the master room. Would probably be best to avoid that room.  

“What the fuck… Was that?” Jessie asked, in a small panicky voice, making Aerith finally look at her. What was it indeed? These ghosts clearly knew her mother, and knew her. 

Something crossed her mind, and she asked out loud “Did Puppy call Marshmallow… Cloud?” 

“Wait as in your imaginary friend, Cloud?” Yuffie shuddered, “Okay that’s a little freaky. But are we not going to talk about the fact- that they said- that your mom sealed someone away?” 

“I have no idea what they’re talking about.” All four exchanged weary looks, and Aerith felt a headache threatening to come on. Who was Puppy and Cloud… so much about them was familiar. “How is my mother tied to this, and Cloud that thing is scared of him.” 

Tifa was deathly silent, her wine eyes flickering with emotion, her voice sounding tight, and every-now and then she would squeeze Aerith's hand.  “Can you describe them?” She finally asked, making everyone confused. Hadn’t they just seen the creature on the video?  

“Them?” 

“The guys. Aerith… I think I know who it is. It would explain why they are so familiar with you.” 

Aerith hummed, “Puppy had violet eyes, and ebony black hair.” Thinking back now that she wasn’t afraid she was about to die, Puppy was rather handsome. Just like she always pictured him when she felt his energy. 

“Did he have a scar on his left cheek? Looks like an X?” Tifa probed. 

“Yes?" 

Yuffie sobered up, and looked at Tifa, who had become rather pale. “Yo Tif, you don’t look too good.” 

“I’m fine… it's just. It's going to sound crazy but I think I know who they are…” She trailed off, seeming to lose herself in a distant memory. “Could it really be?” Tifa whispered, before looking at the other three girls. “We need to get some history on this house. To think, this entire time, Zack and Cloud might have once existed, not fragments of children’s imaginations.” 

Jessie sucked in a sharp breath making everyone look at her. “Wait-Wait-WAIT! You- You think Zack and Cloud are ghosts… and somehow you and Aerith saw them when you were little?”

“Huh?” Aerith’s brain had decided to go for a walk then and there. She was having a hard time trying to process just what her two friends were going on about

“Seriously, how many people have imaginary friends that others can see?” Jessie pointed out to Aerith. “Didn’t you say yours were like fairy tale princes?” 

“Yes but…” Aerith paused, and started pondering, “You think Zack and Cloud are ghosts… not just any ghosts but Puppy and Marshmallow?” 

“Mmhmm.” 

“It all makes sense now. Why they were so friendly with us.” Aerith mused. Sometimes when one of the older ladies in the village decided to brave the manor and visit. There was always a shift in the atmosphere that made the whole place feel unwelcoming, because of that none of the ladies passed the threshold, and would leave just as quickly as they came. Aerith learned very quickly Marshmallow- no Cloud- preferred no outsiders. Now it made sense why, the four girls had yet to be run out. Zack and Cloud, knew her and Tifa. The entire time she was growing up in Midgar she believed that her imaginary friends abandoned her just like her mother. But the sad truth was, they were trapped here at the manor. They were once living people, just like Aerith and her friends. “I always felt comfortable with them, like they were super familiar.”

“Me too. That day when Cloud walked in on me. I could have sworn I heard his voice before. It’s a shame it took me this long to realize.”

Yuffie looked between them, tension heavy in her posture, "Okay, that's cool and all but seriously… that monster is locked in one of our rooms, and that lady is after Aerith. Seriously what the fuck is going on?”

"Something that's beyond our knowledge level?" Jessie piped up, still clinging to Tifa. "Maybe we could research it? Find out more about our ghosts and that monster... monsters?" 

Aerith reached over and grabbed one of Yuffie's notebooks. Best to make a list of things; facts they had acquired, and stuff to be done. "Right so we know my birth mother is tied to this. She sealed someone? That part is confusing. Next is the two ghosts are named Cloud and Zack." Tapping the capped side of the pen to her mouth, she worked to organize her thoughts. "I don't think they're up for answering questions. So we need information on them- Tifa didn't you say there was a family graveyard here?" 

Tifa's wine colored eyes met hers, as she answered; "Yes, Mister Morgan stopped by the bar the other day- said he's almost done getting copies of the records on the estate." 

"Good, we can check there and find our boys' resting place. Next Yuffie I need you to look into legit ghost hunting groups, send a screen shot of the woman and that thing. Find out more. Either they're getting Ifrit flaming hell out of my house or I will die trying."  Placing her hands on her hips, Aerith met all four of her friends eyes, with a determined look. "Now lets find which room they put that thing in."

After spending the rest of the day going through footage, and locating the creature- which banged against the door the moment it sensed life on the other side. Sleep had come over the household rather easily- despite the fact that they had a legit monster locked in the master bedroom.  Tifa had volunteered to stay the night in Aerith’s room just in case. Yuffie, whose room happened to be right across from the master room, decided to crash in Jessie’s. 

While getting ready for bed all agreed to an early start with a trek to the graveyard. Aerith felt a pang of bittersweet grief, at the thought of seeing the final resting place of the two ghosts. They still felt so alive, not just skeletons buried beneath the earth for the last how many hundreds of years. 

Her last thought as she finally drifted to sleep beside Tifa was;

Would they ever find eternal rest?

Chapter Text

She recognized the dark haired child that ran past her. He was younger than his current self, but the bright grin plastered on his face, and those vivid violet eyes- that almost seemed to glow in the sunlight, was a dead give away. He was running towards a tiny blond whose hair spiked up in the front while the rest was tied back in a low ponytail. He was sitting by himself, on a rod iron bench, cerulean blue eyes downcast and people placed a large distance between him and themselves. The looks of disgust and fear were clear as day on their faces anytime they passed the child.  Aerith recognized him as well, and her heart gave a pang of grief over how lost and small the child looked.

“I w’ld be careful there young, lad. That a Changeling.” A woman spoke, stopping the young dark haired lad from approaching the blond that had caught his attention. Shaking her head as she shot the child a nasty glare, before looking back at the dark haired child with a sweet smile. “B’st run back to yer pa bef’re that thing dec’des to le’d ya to the fairy folk, for em to eat ya.”  

The woman placed a comforting hand on the ravenette’s back, she pushed him towards the town inn- where his father was currently at- before walking towards the other child. She banished her broom like a sword and swung it at him a few times. “Shoo! Go on now ye wee devil! Yer not gonna be getting this one.” 

The blond lad started crying. “I can’t find my ma.” 

The woman hissed and swung again; the broom coming  dangerously close to hitting him, and the child flinched. “I dinna care. Shoo ya wee beastie!” 

The raven balled his tiny hands into fists and threw himself between the woman and the other. 

“Leave him alone!” 

So what if he was snapping at an elder, this woman was below him in status, who was she to order people around and then attack another child. So what if he was some fae child. 

The woman scoffed, and huffed away muttering about another child to be eaten by the fairies and damn changeling needed to die or be sent back to the other realm. 

The blond lad went to scurry off only to be stopped by the raven haired lad. “

“Woah… Woah! Spikey. I won’t hurt you!” The blond stilled as the other pulled him in for a hug. “Please don’t cry, we'll find your ma, Spikey.” 

Slowly the other stopped crying and just clung to the other. “I’m not Spikey.” he finally muttered. 

“My names, Cloud.” 

The raven beamed, “Alright, Cloudy! I’m Zack!” Ruffling the other’s hair, he kept grinning. “Let’s get my Da to help! We’ll find your ma in no time.” Zack reassured, grabbing Cloud’s hand and dragging him towards the inn.  

Cloud blushed and peek up through his bangs. “Will he help? Even if I am a changeling?” 

Zack grinned, “Even if you are a changeling!” 

Green eyes slowly fluttered open, as Aerith came back to the waking world. That dream, was it a memory? She wondered as she yawned. It was rather cute, nothing like the past few dreams she’s had. Snuggling closer to Tifa she replayed the dream over in her head. Both had been so young at the time, but Zack still stood a good few inches taller than Cloud. It was endearing to realize that they had been childhood friends, and still just as close even after death. 

Watching Tifa’s sleeping face, Aerith smiled to herself. They were just like her and Tifa in a way, a bond of friendship that even time could not break, or in Zack and Cloud’s case- death. There was a small nagging feeling that said they were closer than just friends though. Something about the way Zack addressed Cloud the other night. Love he had called him love. Aerith blushed, perhaps they were a little something more after all. Would her and Tifa end up like that?

Shaking her head to clear her straying thoughts, Aerith carefully slipped from bed, straightening out her nightgown and placing her feet in her slippers, she quietly padded out of the room. 

Halting by the giant claw mark in the wall- between the two doors on the opposite side- she shivered. Her two friends' reaction to the new art on the wall was rather priceless, she would have laughed at the looks on their faces- had she not been so nervous, about the hollowing hunger that radiated from down the hall. From the thing that decided to redecorate, with its artwork. 

“Good morning; Zack and Cloud~” Aerith greeted softly, feeling a little bit silly after, but getting the desired effect she wanted.  She could ignore the third presence, and pretend that everything else was normal. Truthfully a part of her was elated, now knowing who Marshmallow and Puppy were she could easily slip back into her old habits she had as a child. 

Bounding down the stairs, shouting good morning to her two imaginary friends, before helping her mother make breakfast. She was giddy, just like she was as a child. Knowing what she knows now, that they were ghosts all along. It all made sense. 

Sometimes, she would hear her mother chiding her imaginary friends, and wondered if she was just amusing her silly minded daughter, but now to- realize that her mother knew they existed. All the times her mother would talk to them, and lecture them like children when Zack would get Aerith into some sort of mischievous plan he thought of. Much like Aerith, poor Cloud was just along for the ride. 

Smiling to herself at a memory from long ago, she hummed; “I’ll go make some tea.” and continued down towards the kitchen. 

Setting the kettle on the burner, Aerith leaned against the counter and watched- out the window- as the sun started to rise through the trees. 

“Dinna fash, mo chridhe. Ye found me.” a woman who bore striking resemblance to Cloud, pulled the small blond child to her bosom and held him. She looked at the taller man and child who had accompanied her child in finding her. “I thank ye, my lords,  for helping my boy find me.” Small Cloud was crying once more, and his mother hugged him tighter. “M'annsachd, dinna fash. I am here. Mo chridhe I am here.” She soothingly whispered over and over, while rocking herself and her crying child back and forth. 

Aerith flinched as the tea kettle started to scream, pulling her out of her day dream. Pulling the kettle off the stove and turning it off, she just stood there. That was a first. To have one of those visions hit her while she was awake. Why was she having them now? 

A chilly breeze passed through her, as a playful voice sounded behind her, Morning Aer~

That pulled Aerith from her trance.  

Smiling, Aerith giggled. “Morning Zack.” Glancing around she asked, “Is Cloud with you?” Then she felt him, a shy presence just off to her right, and a little out of her field of vision, she saw spikey blonde hair.  “Oh! There you are Cloud. No need to be shy~” She teased, earning a hearty laugh that filled the air around her. Her smile grew wider. No doubt about it, that was Zack. 

A leannan behave.

She probably sounded and looked like a raving lunatic standing around; steaming tea kettle in hand, talking to air.  But she couldn’t help it; she could practically feel their responses, like words flashing in her mind. Sometimes their voices would even drift to her ears, though not always clear enough to make out. 

Finally deciding to make her morning tea, Aerith crossed the kitchen towards the cabinet that held the mugs. Passing through a cold spot, Aerith shivered. 

While going about making her tea, she mustered the best stern mother look she could, “Zack, it's not polite to stand in people's ways.” She chided only to end up giggling. She could feel the amused grin radiating off both of the spirits, a soft audible snort sounded from Cloud’s corner, melting Aerith’s expression into one of pure happiness. Even as a child it was hard to get reactions out of the blond.

Turning back around she finished up her tea. It just felt so natural to talk to them, and to even just feel them around. All this time they had remembered her, while she had shoved them to the back of her mind like a discarded toy- left to be forgotten. 

It made her feel guilty. 

“Zack-Cloud?” 

Yes? There he was towards the end of the counter, Cloud right beside him. Going towards the fridge Aerith grabbed some creme and mixed it with her tea. 

“About the last month- sorry for my behavior.” She apologized, “I feel bad for not realizing sooner…” Taking a sip of her tea she turned around and faced where she felt them hovering. 

It's fine. She could picture in her mind's eye him waving it off, with that blinding grin of his. One she had seen so many times as a child. 

“You know it's silly, when I had left and could no longer see you… I thought-I thought you two had abandoned me also… but now I know it's because you two can’t leave here, can you? I’m just happy to have found you guys again.” She was shaking, but the hollowness that had been there for so long in her chest was starting to fill. 

That day she found her mother, they had been there hovering protectively around her. She remembered Zack hugging her- just like he did the other night- he had felt so real then.  When the medics came, she never saw them again. 

Radio silence from the two resident spirits, but they hadn’t left her just yet. One moved closer, and Aerith realized from the mellow calm energy, it was Cloud. A cold caress, like the wind giving her a gentle kiss, brushed against her cheek. 

You’re crying. 

“Hey, Tifa what does Mo ch…rid-he… Mo chridhe mean?” Aerith asked, looking up from the document she was reading. Shortly after her conversation with Zack and Cloud, Mister Morgan had arrived and handed over the documents he could find. Currently all four of them were seated around the living room coffee table, pouring over the papers and making notes. Jessie, Tifa and Yuffie all focused on her. 

“Mo chridhe? It's an old Nibel tongue- rarely used anymore. It’s a term of endearment meaning my heart.” Tifa answered, setting down the paper she was reading. “Where did you hear it?” 

“In my dreams.” Aerith answered, it wasn’t far from the truth. Her friends already knew about her dreams, and they were worried, she didn’t want to stress them further to say she had a vision this morning. “I’m starting to wonder if they’re memories.” 

All three exchanged looks amongst themselves. 

“Memories?”  Jessie asked, cocking her head slightly. “Like you’re seeing dead people's lives?” 

“Oh? Was it something spicy?” Yuffie wiggled her eyebrows suggestively as she smirked. 

Tifa groaned and massaged her temples. “Yuffie… no shipping dead people.” Clapping her hands together Tifa silenced any other words from the dark haired girl, and prevented Aerith from answering. “Now let’s focus on this mission first- let's pool together what we have discovered so far..” 

Pulling the notebook and pen towards her, Tifa flipped to a random empty page; “Jessie you first.” 

Jessie took a deep breath and pulled her note book infront of her. Flipping to her desired page she started; “The land was purchased by Fergus James Strife- Born 1654-  in 1674. He was the son of a wealthy lord, and in 1675 he had Strife Manor built. At his death in 1719- the manor passed to his only son, who was Claudel Fergus Strife- Born 1697. In 1727 Claudel’s wife finally gave him a child that lived, a little girl they named; Claudia Anne Strife. Who would inherit the manor at the age of twelve when her father and mother were found murdered in the center of the stone circle in 1739.” 

“Claudia Strife at the age of 16 would go missing and return three years later with child. In October of 1746 she had a son, named Cloud Claudel Strife. Claudia would later marry a Lord Jamie Malcomn Fair in 1756, who was a widower from Gongaga. He had a son named Zachary William Grey Fair. In 1760 Lord Fair was found dead in the center of the stone circle, murder is suspected.”

“In 1766- her two sons were found dead in the center of the stone circle, and Claudia’s body was never found. Once again murder is suspected. And thus ended the Strife line. In 1790 the manor after sitting abandoned for twenty- four years was bought by a man named Gast Faremis, who’s wife vanished in 1800 and is never seen again, Gast would later pass away from old age in 1858. The manor sat empty until Aerith’s great grandmother bought it in 1899. The last interesting thing I found was that Aerith's mother is listed as a murder victim. It's a bit weird to see those murdered- their bodies were all found in the stone circle.” Jessie took a deep breath and exhaled, pushing her notebook away she flopped backwards on to the hard wood floor. 

Aerith felt her blood run cold, so much death. Not just her mother but Zack and Cloud. They were all murdered. Was it by that pale haired woman’s hands or someone else's? Aerith looked up noticing everyone was watching her. Silently and patiently waiting for her to answer them. 

When she didn’t speak up right away Yuffie broke the silence. 

“How does a noble lady vanish for three years then just reappear out of thin air with child. I read the article but fairies don’t exist right?” 

“Well according to most- ghosts don’t exist either and yet here we are dealing with two Caspers and two Chuckies.” Jessie shot back. 

Aerith watched as her friends started bickering back and forth, but their voices faded and turned to static, as another one rang in her ears. A mother’s soothing voice as she rocked her crying son. 

I am a woman of doire
The folk have stolen me over again,
The stones seem to say
I stood within the circle, and the wind did rise,
And the sound of thunder rolled across the land,
I placed my hands upon the tallest stone
And traveled to a far, distant land,
Where I lived for a time among strangers
Who became lovers and friends
But one day, I saw the moon came out
And the wind rose once more,
So I touched the stones
And traveled back to my own land
And took up with the man, I had yet to meet

People disappear all the time. Disappearances, after all, have explanations... Usually. 

Sometimes a child may stray too far from its parents, the lucky few are found the others lost just another missing person, another face to the list of never ending disappearances. Until one day they may be found again. 

“Once more I thank ye my Lord. I thought I had lost my little Stormcloud forever.” Lady Strife tried her best to curtsey while holding her son. Cloud had calmed significantly, it was rare for him to be around kind strangers. Her poor boy so feared by the villagers, was often mistreated.  When he had wandered from her side she thought that was it, that he was going to be lost to her forever. That one of the villagers would take it upon themselves to rid Gaia- of what they thought was- an evil being. They could not see that her son was just a human as the rest of them. He was not a changeling, she'd be fine if they called him a bastard. Bastards at least had a place amongst the people, but no they saw him a a fairy's child. 

Lord Fair just smiled, and ruffled Cloud's hair. “It’s not me you should be thanking. Zack found him and asked me to help him find you.” 

Zack puffed up his chest a little at that and grinned at the two blondes, “I’m glad we found you! Cloudy was pretty upset. I don't like seeing him cry” 

Lady Strife returned their smiles and patted the raven haired boy. So rare to find such kind strangers. “Perhaps I could thank you both with dinner sometime?” 

Other times young girls will run away from home, to seek love else where. 

Against her will- her feet carried her across the dew covered grass, passed the outer stones of the circle until she was standing in front of the tallest one in the center. Moonlight bathed the world around her in a silvery ethereal glow, and the wind picked up, pulling long blonde strands free from their binding. Had her hair always been blonde? She couldn’t remember. Before her the stone called her sweetly, drew her in thunder roared around her and the buzzing of thousands of insects swarmed her. Everything went black the moment her fingers grazed the stone.

“Aerith?” 

Slowly the world around her refocused and the noise of Yuffie and Jessie’s bickering flooded her ears. Swaying in her spot Aerith, found Tifa’s warm colored eyes full of worry. “Are you alright? We can stop if it's too much.” 

“No, I was just remembering something- is all. From a dream. A woman talking about how she was stolen by the folk, the voice… it sounded a lot like Lady Strife.” 

Finally her other two friends paused and looked between Tifa and Aerith. Listening as they spoke to each other. She wouldn’t tell them just yet of the visions she had. That what was what she had become lost in once more. Who's memories were they? Cloud's? Zack's? Lady Strife? or was it all of them? 

“Aer, you’re taking the fact your mother was murdered pretty well.” Jessie murmured, afraid to speak it too loud. Was she really? It felt like her emotions were all over the place. Part of her cried for those who were murdered, yet another part was angry, while the last part felt lost? Like it wasn’t real at all. 

“I always thought her death was odd. No one ever gave me the details.” 

Jessie pulled her notebook towards her again. “You know what is really odd… They all died sometime between the evening of October 31st and the dawn of November 1st. Same goes for those who were deemed natural deaths. Pretty fishy if you ask me.”

“Seriously, we have a Halloween killer?” Yuffie snorted, despite the seriousness of it. 

Tifa just shook her head, “In Nibelheim we celebrate Samhain, it starts the evening of October 31st.”

“If you ask me it almost sounds like someone murdered them as sacrifices.” Jessie’s words were blunt and Aerith flinched. Sacrifices? Maybe to that thing. Thinking of the creature Aerith closed her eyes and let the energies around her touch her senses. She could feel Zack and Cloud, both hovering just outside the living room threshold- but the creature’s energy was barely there- like it was fading, or slumbering once more. 

Aerith’s heart ached, Cloud was her age when he was murdered. 

As if sensing her thoughts; cold washed over the room, making everyone jump. They were on either side of Aerith, she could almost picture them looking at the documents spread across the table. Were they going to be upset with them for prying into their past? 

“Seriously learn to announce yourselves!”  Jessie yelled, once she had recovered. A laugh filled the air at that and Jessie squealed and flung herself at Yuffie. Leave it to Zack to make a game out of this. 

Like that? 

Aerith realized he was looking at her. 

A leannan, stop scaring her. 

Fine, alright… you are no fun though Sunshine. 

Aerith giggled, they sure did bicker like a married couple sometimes. Was it because they had spent well over two hundred years together?

Her friends were all watching her, "They're fighting like an old married couple." She supplied giggling more when two set so protest rose up on either side of her.

We are not old! Zack pouted crossing his arms. 

"That's what you deny and not the married part?" Yuffie raised a brow at Aerith's words and a cat that got the canary grin etched its way on to her face. There was no way she was going to let them live it down if her new ship had already been sailing. 

Uh... 

Ignore him, he's vain about his age. Papers shifted as if Cloud had actually picked one up and was looking over it.    Why are you looking at these things? 

Aerith felt a little sheepish at that. Cloud could sometimes be prickly about things, he liked to keep to himself and keep his secrets. "We're trying to learn more?" She mustered her best smile, hoping it would keep him from becoming too upset. 

Tifa seemed to pick up on what the question must of been, because she spoke up. "We want to know what that creature has to do with the house."

Cloud's reply echoed around the room for all to hear:  

"That creature was once human." 

Chapter Text

Cloud Claudel Strife
Beloved son of the Fairy Folk

B. October 13th 1746
D. October 31st 1766

Aerith blinked. This wasn’t right. 

Standing before the grave of Cloud. 

How did she get here? Last thing she remembered was snuggling under her blankets and falling asleep. Now here she was standing in her nightgown, bare feet on the mist soaked grass, with the light of the half moon and stars raining down on the tombstones that surrounded her. 

She didn’t even know the way back to the manor. They had yet to visit the graveyard, but yet somehow her body had brought her here. Even when she was a child her mother never once visited this place. 

It was a warm night in June- though the Nibel air still held a chill from the mountains above. Mist had risen only a few inches above the ground, swirling and twisting like the ocean waves. Fireflies danced around her as she slowly stepped away from Cloud’s grave. 

Right beside Cloud’s tombstone was another. 

Zachary William Grey Fair

Beloved Son
Finally Reunited with his parents. 

B. March 10th 1744
D. October 31st 1766

At least they were buried side by side. 

The wind picked up rustling the surrounding trees and tugging at her down locks. Goosebumps rose, and a tingling feeling overcame her- something was stalking through the shadows along the treeline. Something animal-like, but not of this world. Another moved off to her right. To someone without a sixth sense, they would think they were being stalked by Nibel Wolves, but to Aerith, she knew these things were just like the creature locked in the master bedroom. 

She was lost and being hunted. 

A soft otherworldly hum sounded a few feet in front of her, as a tiny ball of blue wispy flame materialized. Ahh It hummed as it floated before her, beckoning her to come near. Against her better judgment, Aerith moved towards it. As she neared the wisp vanished, and popped up a few more feet ahead of her. It did it again when she was close enough.

The creatures in the woods behind were sniffing the air and hissing. The soft earth and grass muffling their foot falls. 

Aerith decided then that it was better to trust the little blue flame, over whatever waited for her in the tree line. 

Following the wisps through the cemetery, they led her down a small overgrown deer trail and further away from the prowling beasts.

The walk felt like hours before a quaint little cottage, at the base of the Nibel Mountains, greeted her. An old beat up pick up truck was parked in the drive and warm candle light flickered from the windows inviting her towards it. The last of the wisps vanished right at the doorstep. 

Cautiously Aerith made her way towards the door and gently knocked. A flash of guilt overcame her as she realized that she may be waking the cottage’s occupants. Soft shuffling came from the other side of the door and it cracked open a sliver, black hair almost covering the man’s crimson eye that looked at her. 

“Can I help you?” His deep voice rumbled, laced with sleep. 

Aerith gulped, maybe she shouldn’t have followed those mysterious balls of blue fire. Why would they lead her to some random man’s house? “I’m a little lost.” She finally spoke up picking at her nightgown. 

The man opened the door a little bit more and did a once over on her. “Why are you dressed in your shift?”

“I-I” How was she going to explain without sounding insane? “I live at Strife Manor and must have slept-walked.”  she finally muttered, blushing a bright tomato color. “Do you think you can point me in the right direction?” 

The man’s eyes trailed towards the wood-line behind her and narrowed slightly. “Perhaps it is best you come inside and rest, first light will be in a few more hours.” He stepped aside to give her space to walk in if she chose to. Every part of Aerith told her not to, after all what young woman in their right mind would venture into some strange man’s house in the middle of the night?

As if sensing her unease, the crimson eyed man spoke up; “You need not worry about me. I have no interest in taking advantage of you. However, if you remain outside, I cannot say what will happen to you.”

Finally, Aerith made up her mind and hesitantly stepped inside and the man closed the door behind her. The cottage was a singular room, with a tiny little closed off area that was the bathroom. A bed was shoved to the right side next to the fireplace. The kitchen was fully equipped for cooking and had a small little table with one chair against the left window. It was small but homely. 

"Take a seat- rest if you need." He went over and added logs to the fire and stoked it once more, bringing the bright flames to life. 

Taking a seat at the only chair, Aerith watched him intently. Even if she wanted to rest, she was too well aware of her surrounding to relax. "May I get your name?" She finally asked, as the man took a seat on the edge of the bed. He did not look to be much older than Aerith herself. Yet somehow radiated an aura of an old wise being. An old soul perhaps? 

"Vincent Valentine." Crimson eyes flicked over her, "and you are Aerith Faremis, daughter of Ifalna. Your mother and my wife were close."

The world halted around Aerith at Vincent's words. "You knew my mother?" 

Vincent nodded his long ebony locks swaying with the movement. "Yes. I also know of Strife Manor, and the secrets that place hold are best left well alone." 

What secrets was he talking about? Could he know about Zack and Cloud? Vincent didn't feel like a threat, he just seemed mysterious. Wait if he knew her mother than he was way older than he looked. 

"Ho-"  Firelight danced off those ruby eyes as Vincent watched her from his spot effectively silencing her, as they seemed to glow.

"Paraphs you would like some tea? To calm your nerves." He stood and fetched the kettle before placing it over the fire instead of the stove. "It is best not to ask questions, I will only be helping you this once."  

"Wha-" Aerith cut herself off before she could ask another question. The man just said not to ask questions and yet here she was asking questions. 

Vincent leaned against the fireplace hearth. "You're a Cetra in the old tongue. In common its called Ancient. You're mother was one as was my wife." He informed, his deep voice never gaining any emotion as he spoke. "You are the last Cetra. All others have passed." 

Aerith's eyes widened, what was he talking about? Cetra as in the people of folklore that were connected to the planet and afterlife?  She did have a strong connection to plants and could sense the souls of the dead. But others could be that way too right? Vincent watched the different emotions crossed her face, before he finally spoke up again. "You want to ask something don't you?" 

"What is a Cetra?"

"People who are connected to the leylines of this planet. They have a strong tie to the magic and flow of the lifestream. You see them don't you the souls that haunt your manor?" 

"You mean Cloud and Zack?" Aerith tensely asked. 

"Two pour souls that are trapped in this world. They do not know how they died so they are unable to move on. Never to be reborn again. Cloud was a Cetra, one of the future generations to carry on the legacy." 

Cloud was like her? That would mean, "Lady Strife was a Cetra?" Vincent nodded. "So I'm connected to all of this then?" 

"I do not know what the Goddess Minerva has prepared for you. I figured it would be best to let you know of your true heritage, as Ifalna passed before she could tell you." 

"That thing is scared of Cloud because he's a Cetra right?" Aerith observed, replaying the creature that stalked her and Jessie weeks ago. But yet it wasn't scared of her like it was of Cloud. Maybe Vincent would know, he seemed to know a lot about her even though she couldn't remember ever meeting him. Something in her gut told her she could trust him though. 

"Creature?" Vincent cocked his head much like a cat would when a small creature caught its attention. "What creature?"

Aerith shuddered, "This thing attacked us in the manor... it had green glowing eyes and moved on all fours." 

"The Calamity has awoken then." The tea kettle started to scream off and Vincent pulled it from the fire and retreated back across the room- to the kitchen. "It would be best for you to not wander alone." 

"Calamity?" 

"I cannot speak more of her to do so would summon her to me." Pouring the tea he handed her a cup. "Best if you leave the manor and never return, but I doubt you will listen." Vincent looked to the grey dawn skies. "Come let us return you before you're friends worry." 

Returning to Strife Manor was a silent ride, Vincent had said all he had to say and was no longer willing to talk. Driving up the long gravel drive, the Manor loomed before them completely dark and silent. Vincent slowed to a halt, and watched as Aerith climbed out.

"Thank you again!" She chirped and started to close the truck door behind her.

"Take care of yourself." He muttered in parting as she started up the front steps. 

He could only pray that Minerva watched over the last of her children.