THE MERCENARY OF TIME AND SPACE 2

 

 

Chapter 1

 

 

"Come with me... son.... come with me...."

 

 

"... What the hell is this ?"

 

 

"Come with me... or..."

 

 

"Or what ?"

 

 

"Or YOU SHALL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES FROM THE EVILS !!!"

 

 

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU !?"

 

 

With that scream, Kelvin Vagabond woke up from his nightmare. It has been six months ever since he cleared that mission... The mission to team up with heroes from various realms, Lantis, Galford D. Weiler, Fayt Leingod, Cao Pi Zihuan and Heihachirou Tadakatsu Honda... in order to rescue the women of their lives, Shidou Hikaru, Nakoruru, Maria Traydor, Zhen Ji and Ina, from a group called 'The Evils', consisting Lady Debonair, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, Dong Zhuo Zhongying, Nobunaga Oda, and its leader, Luther Lansfeld. Furthermore, Kelvin found out his true identity... being a half-4D, born between a normal human and a 4D being.

 

 

But, ever since then, every once in a month, Kelvin has been haunted by nightmares such as those. "Ugh... what was that dream about anyway...?" Kelvin muttered, in confusion, "The Evils... still there...? It looks like The Evils is more than just a group of villains like them... And my researches did no good..."

 

 

"Oh well... Time to train my proefficiency with another weapon...." Kelvin said as he went to his weaponry. He took a steel metal long kusarigama with him and headed to the training hall. Soon he would be seen honing his skills with his kusarigama...

 

 

Yes, it seems that there are more depth within The Evils... and Kelvin seemed to be connected with it... But how ? Unknown to Kelvin, a new trouble in the other world is about to begin without his notice, unlike before. However.... as this new trouble rises, a new band of heroes shall also rise...

 

 

-City of The Ancients-

 

 

It's been one year since Cloud Strife defeated Sephiroth in the North Crater and saved the planet. However, in his mind, he still couldn't forget the tragedy... the tragedy that took away one of his best friend, his possible new love, the last of the Ancients, Aeris Gainsborough. Long before Cloud could defeat Sephiroth, Aeris prayed for the Holy Materia, but was killed by Sephiroth in process. However, her prayer succeeded before she left the world and Holy was summoned just in time to counter Meteor, which was summoned by Sephiroth. But even after the planet was saved, not everything is possible... Aeris never came back to life once more...

 

 

And at that time, Cloud was visiting the pond within the City of the Ancients, the same pond where he buried Aeris' body after her murder. He was carrying several flowers. "You used to sell these, Aeris..." Cloud said as he walked, entering the water. He put the flower on the exact spot where he left Aeris' dead body to drown. "I brought this for you. I hope you're happy up there..." Cloud continued, "No... I always know that you're happy up there..." Then, Cloud started to leave the pond, until...

 

 

Suddenly, Cloud hear a loud zap. "What the !?" Cloud said in shock as he looked behind. The place where he put the flowers were zapped with a light pillar. "The hell's happening...!?" Cloud said as he covered his eyes. The light was blinding his eyes. However, when he opened his eyes a bit to see what's going on, he saw Aeris' body lifted in the air. "A.... Aeris !?" Cloud called her, but suddenly the pillar exploded, blowing Cloud away.

 

 

When Cloud wake up, everything returned to normal... except that Aeris' body was lying on the side of the pond. Cloud approached Aeris' body and was shocked... Her ribbon which she used to tie her hair... was equipped on her hair. "What happened here...? When Sephiroth killed Aeris, I knew her ribbon was torn off... but..." Cloud muttered as he shook his head, hoping that this is not just hallucination.

 

 

"Uh..."

 

 

However, he suddenly heard a weak moan of... a girl... Cloud looked at Aeris and he was shocked. Aeris was slowly opening her eyes and moved her hands. "... Aeris ?" Cloud asked, and finally, Aeris spoke to him, "Uh.... Cloud...?"

 

 

"Aeris !!" Cloud shouted happily as he helped Aeris to sit down, "This is not a dream isn't it ? You're alive, aren't you !?" ".... I guess ?" Aeris said, with a clueless tone, "I was wandering within the souls in the Lifestream. Until this certain force... pulled my soul back to my body."

 

 

"And when I woke up... I saw you." Aeris said with a slightly happy tone. She's glad to see Cloud again. Not to mention that he's the first guy she saw when she returned back to life. "Let's return." Cloud got up and offered his hand, "The others will be very surprised to see you again."

 

 

"I missed them !" Aeris said in excitement. "I wonder what would've happened to them..." She then grabbed Cloud's arm and got up. They were about to leave the pond, until suddenly an eerie voice echoed.

 

 

"Heh heh heh... I feel really terrible... to ruin this reunion..."

 

 

"... Ah !?" Aeris suddenly gasped. She couldn't move. "Aeris ? What's wrong ?" Cloud asked, looking at her weird condition. But out of his predictions, Aeris' body suddenly moved itself and entered the building nearby in a quick speed. "CLOUD !! HELP !!!" Aeris screamed for help, as Cloud ran, chasing her, "Aeris ! NO !!"

 

 

'I lost her once... But I will not repeat my mistake before !!' Cloud thought as he continued chasing Aeris, remembering the memories on how Sephiroth killed her right in front of his eyes. However, the force that pulled Aeris pulled her quicker than Cloud's running speed.

 

 

Eventually, Cloud stumbled upon the same place... the same place where Aeris was murdered. However, in front of the small platforms leading to spot where Aeris was praying before, a black hooded man that looked like a magician was blocking his path. His face couldn't be seen with the hood covering it, and he wielded a black staff...

 

 

"I cannot let you pass here..." The man said, but Cloud cut him off, "Are you the one causing this all ?" "... Yes. I brought back Aeris Gainsborough to life... But I do not use black magics to taint her soul. In short, she's as good as she was never dead before." The man gave an answer that made Cloud stunned. It was because of this guy's effort that he could see Aeris again ! "Well, then I..." Cloud was about to thank you, until the man cut him off, "But I revived her like that so I can fulfill my master's wishes. And I'm taking her with me."

 

 

Cloud's interested expression suddenly changed back into disgust and said, "Then where is she !?" "She's over there." The man said pointing to the prayer platform. There, Cloud saw Aeris again. But in quite a predicatement... She was kneeling down, with her hands tied behind her back on her wrists and below elbows. Her legs were also tied on her ankles, knees and thighs. And her body was also tied on her shoulders and waist, and another rope was tying her in a cross shape, with the spot between her breasts as its center. Her mouth was gagged with a black duct tape first and then a thick black cloth circling around her mouth, gagging her even more.

 

 

 

"Mmmmmppphh !!" Aeris called Cloud as she struggled. "Aeris...!" Cloud called her back and he quickly turned his attention to the black hooded man. "Let her go." He said, with anger in his tone, "Or else...!" "Or else what ? I'm taking her no matter what you say." The man replied, and this pissed Cloud even more. "Then who are you and what do you want !?" he asked again. And the man suddenly floated, surprising Cloud.

 

 

"I am from The Evils group. Codename : Necromancer. I am a master of the magic of Life and Death..." the man said, "My master's order is to bring back Aeris Gainsborough to life without tainting her soul, and I am to bring her to my master."

 

 

"Well it'll take quite some time before I can cast my spell to teleport back to my master with Aeris..." Necromancer said as he suddenly prepared his staff in battle stance, "I guess you can humor me for now... Draw your weapon, Cloud Strife ! Show me your power that brought down the legendary Sephiroth !"

 

 

"You know you don't need to ask." Cloud said as he draw his Buster Sword, "I will defeat you and save Aeris, no matter how many times I have to do it !" Then Cloud leapt to attack Necromancer. However, Necromancer could dodge him by just floating to another place. "So slow." Necromancer said as he chanted some words. His staff started to glow green and he yelled, "SOUL SWARM !!" Then, he pointed his staff forward and shot 5 green soul bullets to Cloud. Cloud deflected 2 of them but the rest three hit him.

 

 

"Mmmmphh !!" Aeris screamed, worried as Cloud fell to his knees. "Damn... You're stronger than you look." he commented, "But I am not done yet !!" Cloud then raised his sword, before he yelled, "BLADE BEAM !!" Then Cloud slashed downwards, creating a crescent wave heading to Necromancer and it hit him. However, he didn't look as if he's harmed badly. "Heh... I'm not just stronger than I look... I'm also tougher than I look." Necromancer commented and he suddenly shook his head.

 

 

"Looks like it's time." Necromancer said, "I was hoping more from you, but looks like that is all you can do, Cloud. How disappointing." Suddenly Necromancer teleported near Aeris and held her shoulder. "Mmmmppphh !!" She screamed for help again, and Cloud was about to rescue her again, "You're not taking Aeris anywhere !"

 

 

"Come forth, my servants...!" Necromancer said after he quickly chanted some words, "Hold off this man for me ! Kill him if you must !!" Suddenly, before Cloud could jump from platform to platform, he found himself surrounded with a horde of skeleton warriors, unarmed, trying to grab him. Cloud tried to repel them, but when he destroyed one skeleton warrior, three more skeleton warriors rose from the ground. This thing was repeated dozens of times and Cloud had no time to jump. He had to devote his time to drive away the endless horde of skeletons. Eventually, Cloud's strength gave in, and he was powerless as the skeletons grabbed him, but they didn't hurt him. They just held him on the ground, preventing him to move.

 

 

"Ugh...!" Cloud groaned, trying to summon his strength again, but he couldn't. Suddenly, a portal was created through sorcery behind Necromancer. "I will give you a hint... if you want Aeris back." Necromancer said, "The hint is... Kelvin Vagabond."

 

 

"Well then. Farewell, Ex-SOLDIER !" Necromancer said as he jumped through the portal, carrying Aeris along. "MMMMMMMMPPPPHHH !!!" She screamed for the last time, as Cloud screamed back in anguish, "AERIS !!!!!"

 

 

As the portal closed and vanished, so does the skeletons that held Cloud down. "I lost her again..." Cloud said as he knelt down with his hands on the ground as well. "DAMMIT !!" He scowled as he slammed his fist to the ground. He was just reunited with Aeris, but now he lost her again. However, Cloud suddenly remembered that this time, there's still a chance that she'll still be alive. He then stood up, with a newborn hope.

 

 

"Do not worry, Aeris..." he said, "This time, I will succeed at rescuing and protecting you..." Cloud then walked, exitting the City of The Ancients. He then remembered Necromancer's hint. "The clue is Kelvin Vagabond... Now he must be mentioning someone involved with this... but where is this Kelvin ?" Cloud then walked past the Sleeping Forest, and eventually Bone Village. Once he reached outside, he picked up his PHS, hoping that his friends will pick him up and thus, he can discuss the current events and the whereabouts of Kelvin...

 

 

To be Continued