A/N Before you begin, it is best to read ‘Knight of Spira’ first. There will be a lot of things you won’t understand if you don’t. ) It’s a long one, so set aside some time. It was my first attempt at writing fiction, but you might like it. I’ll let you judge that for yourself. For those of you who are still with me from ‘Knight’, welcome back! I missed ya guys. I hope I don’t disappoint you. Like the previous installment, this one is going to start slow. Be patient, I hate to rush into things. Now let the show begin.

Nanaki found it was the running he missed most of all. The freedom of running joyfully and without restraint. The last 500 years had been spent mostly cooped up in Cosmo Canyon, his duties as leader rarely offering an opportunity. That was now the duty of his son, a burden he was both proud, and glad to pass on to his eldest progeny.

He had certainly slowed in his old age, but his grandchildren running beside him, still had a hard time keeping up. He grinned to himself and chalked one up to the old-timer. Slower certainly, but there was still a bit of the old Red left in him. He slowed to a trot, seeing they were almost at their destination. Red, now that was a nickname that he hadn’t thought about in years. It was almost as if he were two beings. Nanaki was an elder, responsible, and wise. Red was the name he had been given by Cloud and his fellow companions. The more he thought about it, the more he missed being called that.

Red was the warrior, the hero. The one who stood forth in times of danger and answered the call. Nanaki was cautious, deliberate, the leader of his people. Most of his life he had been Nanaki, there was little call for Red anymore. Cosmo Canyon had been hidden from the world, to keep a sacred trust. To hold and stand against the day the wisdom of the Ancients would be needed. A day that Nanaki knew he would not live to see. It was still far in the future, and he was too old. Nanaki would never see it, but Red had. Red had seen things that changed the course of their world forever. In so doing, it changed his path as well. It had forced him to become Nanaki, but found he did not regret it. It was the path he was meant to follow, and he had chosen it freely.

He broke into a slow walk as he neared the ridge, his grandsons trailing just behind him. It was here that it all began. The day that Meteor and Holy clashed over the skies of Midgar. A confrontation that threatened to tear apart the very world. Saved only by the last minute intervention of the Lifestream.

Seno, the oldest of his two grandsons, stared over the ruins with him. He breathed. “This is where it took place. This was Midgar?”

Nanaki nodded. “Indeed it was, child. A testament to man’s knowledge and greatness at one time. As with so many other things, it later proved a testament to their arrogance and folly.”

Narsi, the younger, spoke for the first time. “What do you mean grandpa?”

“Mankind often makes decisions for the gratitude of the moment. Rarely do they consider the consequences of their actions. All too often, it can lead to destruction like this before you.”

“You talk about mankind like they’re bad grandpa. Is that why our home is hidden?”

Nanaki chuckled. “Partly. Some of mankind is bad, some are good. It depends on the individual.”

Seno rejoined the conversation. “Partly?”

“Yes, the other reasons will become apparent before the end of my story. Are you wondering why we are in the outside world?”

“Yeah, isn’t it against the rules to come out here?”

Nanaki smiled sadly. “It is, but I wanted one last time to run with the wind at my back, to run free. I wanted you to experience it as well.”

“One last time?”

“I am old children. The day is not long coming when I will howl my last song. When I go to my rest.”

“You mean like grandma did?”

Nanaki smiled sadly. “Yes child. Like your grandmother.”

Narsi spoke with a tremor in his voice. “You can’t die grandpa. Ever.”

“It is the way of things. We are born, and we die. It is how you spend in between that counts. Mourn not for me when the day comes children. I will go with no regrets. I have had a good life.” He hung his head for a moment. “Would that all sentient beings could say the same.” He shook his head, furiously back and forth. “Enough of that. I did not take you out here just to run. I brought you here to tell you a story.”

Seno brightened and exclaimed joyfully. “Are you going to tell us about Cloud and Sephiroth again? I loved that story. The part about Aeris was sad though.”

Nanaki sat on his haunches, swishing his tail back and forth absently. He chuckled. “Perhaps in the end, it was not so sad as you believe. No children. Today I tell you a new tale. A tale of the birth of a dark god, of the shattering of a world, and a love that would not be denied.”

Narsi blanched. “Love? There’s not going to be kissing is there?”

Nanaki’s eyes twinkled merrily. His grandsons were at the exact age where interest in the opposite sex was just beginning to blossom, and to admit it made you shunned among your peers. “There will be kissing.”

Seno asked. “Aww, do we have to hear it Grandpa?”

“Not if you don’t wish to. It’s a shame though. You’ll miss the battles. Of the later troubles of Cloud Strife, and the future heroes, who came to his aid. It is also a tale of Sorceresses, and Sorcerers. A tale of high adventure.” He hung his head. “Yes, a shame.”

Narsi considered for a moment. “Well, I guess we can. As long as there’s not too much kissing, but who are these future heroes?”

“They have not yet been born. You will learn more of them, when you are older, and are allowed to read the texts of the prophecy. The texts that describe our sacred obligation. Now children, shall we hear the tale?” They both nodded. “Our story begins before the coming of Meteor, with what happened to Cloud before he escaped the Shinra Mansion.”

“Why are we starting there Grandpa? Isn’t that part of the story you told us before?”

“Sometimes, stories can have the same beginning.”

Seno shrugged. “Ok. I don’t understand how you can know things about the future though.”

Nanaki chuckled. “I went there once. I remember Balamb Garden most of all. A very special place children. It does not exist as of yet, but it will.”

“When?”

“That day is far off. Perhaps you will live to see it. Now, shall we hear the tale?”