Keys to the Past

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Chapter 4

Red VXIII looked up at the night sky, and sighed. He was at the edge of town spending time with his sons. “I sense it is beginning again. I must go soon to see my friends. Please keep the people here safe my sons. I will come back when I can,” he said as he turned to them.

“Father, if you need us just send word, and you know we will all be there for everyone,” said the eldest son.

“I know, but I hope this is the end of it. Our world needs peace.” Red nodded to his sons as he turned to leave. He headed back to the observatory in Cosmo Canyon.

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She made it to her motorcycle quickly without any problems. She used a heal materia, but her arm still hurt like hell. She started walking with the motorcycle, so it didn’t make a lot of noise; she got on and started it when she hit the road. She was hoping that if she was followed that she would make it to Nanaki in time. He would help her fight. She made it to the Cosmo Canyon observatory in the few hours before predawn. She walked slowly up the path to a building housing a huge telescope, and hid her motorcycle in a shed at the back of the building.

“Sensei, are you here? It’s Hikari Sato. Please, I need your help,” she said after knocking on the door. No one answered. She was exhausted, and looked for the key to the back door. She found it, went inside, and lay on the couch in front of the fireplace. She curled up in her cloak, closed her eyes, and fell into a guarded sleep.

When Red XVIII arrived at the observatory, he sensed her familiar presence and padded over to where she was laying. She woke up quickly sensing his presence. “I almost did not see you. How is it you come into possession of this cloak Hikari? I thought it was lost,” Looking closer at her he sniffed the cloak, “It smells like blood and gunpowder. What happened?” he said with concern as he put his paw on her leg.

“I have come here because Grandfather is dead. Shinra soldiers killed him. I called Tifa and she is sending Cid.” Reaching up she pulled down the top of her cloak to reveal her face. “Here Sensei, I have the Great Sword family crest ring.” She pulled her hand away from her injured shoulder, and presented it to her teacher.

“I’m sorry for your loss Hikari. Now that you have brought this ring, I have something that belongs to you.”

“Thank you, Sensei.”

“When did you contact Tifa?”

“Yesterday afternoon.” She sat up on the couch.

“Cid will be here soon then, so we must prepare to leave. Who did this to you?” Nanaki said sniffing at where the wound had been on her shoulder; the gunpowder stung his sensitive nose. “It smells like a special blend. Shinra doesn’t use this type of powder. It was a Turk then, correct?” She nodded. “This is bad. If they find out who you are, Rufus will have his whole army sent to get you.”

“They know now. I’m sorry Sensei. I used my name to try for an escape. I think they got information from grandfather about my parent’s secret lab before they killed him. I was at the Halcyon ruins, and the Turks were there getting ready to check the place out. They must have been looking for the key also.”

“That’s not good, so we must sneak you to Midgar. We will need to get you to your parent’s laboratory first. I know where it is, but not the exact location. There is so much to tell you, and so little time right now. It seems that your grandmother’s prophecy is coming to pass.”

“Prophecy? Grandfather said something to me before he died. He said, ‘The Heavenly Light and the Beast shall become one.’ What did he mean by that? He also said that I must see Vincent Valentine, and that he was an old friend. Tifa said she would contact him. I saw his name on two of the pictures that mother hid in the ruins.” Hikari pulled three pictures from her bag, and looked at the one with her parents, and Vincent. “Why would Grandfather want him to help me? I don’t understand how Mr. Valentine comes into play.”

“I don’t know what he meant by the Heavenly Light and the Beast, but it may be some sort of clue. Vincent was a Turk, and worked with your grandfather. He found out some information he should not have, and when Shinra caught him they tortured him. He was then experimented on, and somehow survived. We found him in a coffin in the Shinra mansion, and he joined us to defeat Sephiroth. When your grandfather found out he was still alive, he contacted Vincent. Your grandfather saw him as a son. Why do you think your grandfather sent you here in such a hurry at odd times? Vincent stayed at your grandfathers every once in a while. I don’t know why your grandfather did no let you meet Vincent. I still believe this is odd. Vincent is good person, and I’m sure he will help you.”

“Alright, but the writing on the back of one of the pictures doesn’t make sense. It is the picture of my parents with him. It says Cerberus and JI Project. Do you know what it means, and why write such a strange thing on the back?”

“I do not know what the JI Project means, but Cerberus is the gun Vincent uses.”

“Really? Maybe it has something to with this secret lab.”

Nanaki sighed and sat next to her. He looked into Hikari’s eyes and said, “I’m sorry Hikari. It is time I tell you things that will be painful for you to hear, and what you will see will test you. It must be done for you to understand.”

She nodded, and Nanaki sat next to her.

“Your Grandfather sent you here because you are the last of your family, the last of your kind. I know what your family has passed to you will be used wisely. Your parent’s were very influential scientists working for Shinra, but what I’m sure you did not know is that they helped to create Sephiroth from Jenova’s cells. Your parents did not agree with this project, but Hojo forced them into it. How he forced them I do not know, and you may find out on your journey. Before Sephiroth was born your parents went into hiding. Your Grandfather did not know where they were, and neither did Grandpa and I until they contacted us. They said they had a secret laboratory, and that they were trying to find a way to stop Hojo and Lucrecia from performing this horrifying project. They of course did not succeed. Then you were born a few years later. Your parents stayed in hiding with you, but this time they told us the area where they were hiding. They did not tell your grandfather for fear Shinra would use him to get to them. Somehow they did find out, and they sent the Turks to kill your parents. Your grandfather found out about this, and he tried to leave the Turks. He hated them for killing his son. Of course Rufus Shinra Sr. did not like this, had your Grandfather tortured, and sent to a remote base to train more soldiers. Your Grandfather escaped, and vowed vengeance on Shinra. Then everything in the world started to fall apart. Apparently Shinra Sr. had ambitions, and didn’t think your Grandfather was worth going after. Your Grandfather went mad after this, and has caused trouble for Shinra since then.” He put his paw on her hand, and then continued.

“When I found you, you were very sick, and had been wandering in the mountains near here. We do not know how you got there, or how you survived the monsters, but someone must have taken you away from your parents. I brought you to Grandpa, and we took you in for a few weeks. Grandpa took you to your grandfather when he lived in Nibelheim. He was angry with us, but he came to claim you anyway. Later he brought you here so that we could teach you what he could not, and your Grandfather trained you in the way of the Great Sword. Your parent’s gave us instructions in case something like this were to happen. I must give you what you came here for, and that is your mother’s sword. It is only one key to get into the lab. What the others are I do not know, but I have faith in you Hikari. I will be back in a moment.”

Nanaki came down a spiral staircase with a small wrapped object in his mouth. He walked to Hikari, and put it on the floor at his feet. “Hikari Sato please kneel before me, and hold out your hands to receive your mother’s sword,” he said.

Hikari did as she was told. Strangely her shoulder no longer hurt, it tingled, as if it anticipated what was being given to her.

Nanaki put the wrapped item in her hand, and bowed to Hikari. “You will no longer call me Sensei. You will call me Nanaki, for we are now equals. Receive your mother’s sword, and wield it with the skills your Grandfather taught you. You are the greatest warrior of your family, and I know you will make them all proud.”

She unwrapped the object, and looked at the bracelet that was given to her. As she was about to ask why she was given this instead of a sword, the bracelet started to vibrate. A bright light shone from the bracelet blinding them for a moment. When they were able to see again, there was a large sword gleaming in her hands. One side of the blade was a clear, sparkling crystal, and the other side was a black blade shot through with a silvery dragon. The blades had merged to form one blade. Hikari caressed the sword blade, and it felt weightless.

She noticed that the bracelet and ring were gone now. A faint tingle came up her arms under her gloves. She looked to Nanaki, and took off her gloves. What they saw shocked them. Running from her wrists to her elbows on both arms were dragon tattoos. They had appeared from nowhere, and were very detailed in red and black. Both of the dragons held a symbol in their mouths. The one on her right wrist was the symbol she saw on the stone at her grandfather’s, and at the ruins. The one on her left had the symbol of the Great Sword.

“The Halcyon Sword, known as the Sword of Heaven, and the Great Sword. The swords were forged so long ago; no one knew when they were made. No one knows how the swords came to be in your family’s possession either, and why they have this strange power. They have become one with each other, and with you. They must know you are the last of both your families, and they see you as their rightful master. You will know how to use the sword when the time comes Lady Halcyon,” he said.

“Nanaki why do you call me Lady Halcyon?” she asked as she pulled her gloves back on.

“I call you this because your mother was the Halcyon clan princess. Many people know the Halcyon name, and believe they died with your mother. Do not say this name in front of people you do not trust though.” He stood and walked to the front door. “Do you know what your first name means Hikari?”

“It means Light doesn’t it? I found a note in a trunk at my grandfathers, my mother wrote it, and she called me her little light.” Hikari’s eyes widened at the thought she just had. “Nanaki! My name Hikari means Light, and Halcyon means Heavenly. I am the Heavenly Light!”

“You are correct. We must leave now. I hear the Sierra’s engines. I will do whatever you wish of me. You need only ask,” Red said as he pushed open the door and looked at Hikari.