Victor awoke with a start. As he looked around, he realised that he didn't recognise his surroundings. He didn't remember how he had goten here either.

He slowly got up, then stopped as he felt a pounding in his head. Why did he have such a bad headache? And why was he here?

Lying back down he tried to remember what had happened to him. It took a surpassingly large amount of concentration to reach into his memories.

He remembered Ash insulting him and his father; Ash on the ground about to beg for mercy . . . then . . . a feeling of fear mixed with extreme anger. The anger increasing as the fear dissipated. But somehow the rage had subsided, leaving a calming feeling in its wake.

Victor frowned. Why couldn't he remember images for those memories? Why could he only remember the feelings? This confused him.

He tried to get up, and found that it was easier this time. Just then Aeris peeked in. She looked at him, then stuck her head back out of the tent. "He's awake," she said to someone. Then she entered the tent.

"You should sit down, Victor." She motioned back to where he had been lying. Victor was reluctant however. "You can trust me," she encouraged.

As he sat down, Nanaki entered. Victor watched the beast as it walked over to Aeris. It sat down and looked at Victor. "Victor, would you be able to answer a few questions for me?"

Victor nodded. But he only did so because Aeris said that he could trust them. But he was still very unsure.

"Do you remember what happened last night, after you had attacked Ash?" Victor nodded. He did remember, but it was just feelings. "Tell me what you remember."

"I was afraid, then very angry. But I then felt very safe and calm. Other then these feelings, I really can't remember anything else." Victor looked at Nanaki. Nanaki had a funny look in his eyes. "Why? What happened?"

"Did your father say anything to you about Chaos?"

"Yes. Just before he died. He told me that he could control Chaos, and that I had Chaos. It was really weird. He was probably just ranting again."

"Victor, do you know what Chaos is?" Aeris looked worried. What was going on, and what did it have to do with Chaos and himself?

"I don't know. Something from my father's imagination, maybe."

Nanaki shook his head. "Chaos is very real. It was very real to your father, and should be very real to you too."

Victor bowed his head as if trying to wrestle something within the depths of his mind. "What happened to me?"

Aeris went over to Victor and sat down beside him, as if lending him her strength. "Something happened last night," Nanaki began. "You transformed into Chaos, and tried to attack Ash."

Victor was stunned. "Transformed?" he thought. Was he really this Chaos? He sighed and leaned into Aeris's arms. His new friend was trying her best to help him through this. He smiled ruefully. She was being more of a mother then his mother was. "I wish my father had been ranting. Then I wouldn't have the monster inside of me."

Nanaki regarded Victor quietly. "Would there be anyone that can help me?" Victor asked

Nanaki shook his furry head. "No. Not now."

"What do you mean 'not now'?" Victor said leaning towards Nanaki.

"Quite some time ago, a girl lived that knew many things. She knew things that she didn't know she knew. She was always trying to help people, and somehow, she always knew a way of helping them. If she were here, she might be able to help you."

"Do you mean the Cetra? The Ancient that could talk to the planet?" Nanaki nodded at Victor's question. "My father told me that she always knew where to look for what was important."

"Yes. Her name was Aeris. She was the one that led us to the Ancient Temple and City. Without knowing the location of those locations, we could never have beaten Sephiroth."

"Well I've got some things that I need to find. And If I heard correctly, you need to find something too, Marlene. Could this Cetra help us?"

Nanaki frowned. "Aeris is dead. She was killed by Sephiroth."

Victor looked up. "So what?"

"What do you mean 'so what'?"

"Why can't we still get her to help us?"

"Because she's dead."

"Well, why don't you bring her back?"

"What do you mean, Victor," Aeris asked.

Victor sighed. "My father once told me that ShinRa was creating a new materia that could bring the dead back. He said that it was created before he was sent to Nibelheim, and although it was a secret, he never did know why he was told."

"Where could we find this materia?" Nanaki asked.

"I'm not sure. My father told me about it, but not where it is."

"Well, we will have to talk to all of this with the others. They all should be awake by now."

Aeris took a PHS out of her skirt pocket and dialled her father up. After a few moments she put it away. "No answer. He never answers. Why wouldn't he answer?"

"I'm not sure," Nanaki said standing up. "But I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. We'll try again latter. But we should get moving. It will still take us a day to get to Mideel."

The rest of the early morning was spent packing the tents up. Victor was the only one who didn't help. This annoyed Ash, and he tried to find the little brat to make him help. But the freak couldn't be found. He's probably off chewing on trees, like an untamed animal.

However, Ash was very wrong. Victor had gone ahead to scout. He didn't join back up with the party until they had been hiking for an hour. At first they didn't notice, but then they say the small shadowy figure trailing behind them.

"Where were you?" asked Jet.

"Scouting," Victor simply said.

Jet shook his head. This kid wasn't much for conversation. But he would try anyway. "Did you find anything?"

Victor cast a sidelong glance at the dark hared boy was now walking beside him. "Not really."

"What do you mean 'not really'?"

"I found evidence of chocobo trails that appear frequently used. That is all."

Jet frowned. "We're still a day's walk away from the nearest town, Mideel, so why would many people be riding way out here?"

Vincent only shrugged. And they walked in silence for a few moments, but then Victor froze on the spot.

The others stopped and watched him carefully. "Are you alright?" Aeris asked.

Victor looked at her. "Yes. But I hear someone coming. From that way," he said pointing.

Then, confirming Victor's suspicions, a pair of tame chocobo's came riding out of the trees and halted in front of the group.

The chocobo's appeared to be well bread, and mannered. The riders appeared the same way. Judging by looks, it was father and son. They were both handsome with blond and blue eyes. The boy's expression was a carefree one. But although the father smiled, his forehead retained a slight frown, as if burdened by something. "Hello folks," the man said.

Nanaki growled and positioned himself between his charges and the newcomers. "What are you doing still alive?" he asked the man. "You should be dead."

The man frowned. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You should be dead. I know you're dead," Nanaki hissed.

"I don't know what you mean or who you think I am, but I was just trying to be friendly."

Nanaki's face held a puzzled expression for a moment. "You are Rufus. The president of ShinRa. And you were supposedly killed."

"My name is Dez, and I think we need to talk. Follow me." With that, Rufus/Dez and his companion walked back into the forest. Not knowing what else to do, the group followed.

Aeris walked quietly along. Then she felt like someone was watching her, so she looked around. It was the boy. He was now riding beside her, and staring at her. "Yeah?" Aeris asked.

The boy shook his head. "Nothing." Pause. "You know, we haven't been formally introduced. My name is Alan." He reached his hand down towards Aeris.

Aeris took his hand. "My name is Aeris."

Alan smiled. "Pleasure to meet you," he said with a smile. But he did not release her hand.

"Can I have my hand back?" she asked.

"Sure." He released her hand and they walked in silence for a few moments. "Do you want a ride on my chocobo, Ray?"

Aeris looked at Alan blankly. He sure is bold, she thought to herself.

Alan smiled coyly. "Walking doesn’t befit such a beautiful young lady."

Aeris frowned inwardly. Sure, she was flattered, but she preferred to think of herself as a warrior than a 'lady'. Not too sure of what to say, she just nodded. Alan reached his hand down again, and helped Aeris up onto his chocobo's back.

For the rest of the trip, Aeris's mind was locked in inward contemplation. She kept thinking about why Alan was paying so much attention to her. He said that she was beautiful, but she had always thought of herself as average. Then she felt that the silence had reined long enough. "How do you know Rufus?" she asked.

"Well, I've known him for as long as I can remember. But that's probably what happens when someone is your father. Oh, and by the way; whoever he may have been in the past, Rufus of not, he's now my father and his name is Dez."

Aeris was about to reply when a small house appeared through the trees. It appeared to be a farmhouse of some sort.

As they approached the dwelling, a woman emerged from it. She was smiling and had this very innocent look about her. Aeris knew that she would like her.

Dez (or Rufus) and Alan dismounted their chocobos. While Alan was helping Aeris down, Dez walked over to the woman and said; "I think that we'll be having company for lunch today."

Then Alan led the group over to the woman and introduced her. "This is my mother, Ayanna."

They exchanged introductions and Ayanna took charge. "Look at you all scruffy children! Alan, I want you to show them where they can wash up for lunch."

"Sure mom," Alan replied. He then motioned for the others to follow.

Ayanna turned to Nanaki. "I'm sure that we have a lot to talk about. But it can wait until lunch. Agreed?"

Nanaki nodded. "Agreed. And I am very interested to hear your perspective on all of this. Your husband doesn't appear to want to tell all."

Ayanna began walking away towards the house. "At lunch," she said.

Ayanna wasn't kidding when she said 'lunch'. All of the children eyed the food hungrily. It had been a while since they had eaten something other then food preserves. Now they had all kinds of sandwiches, salads, and assorted tarts. They all began eating hungrily. But Victor didn't eat a lot. All he ate was a sandwich. Ayanna, who happened to be seated next to him, saw this and did not approve.

"Eat up child," she urged.

"I don't eat a lot," he muttered.

"Nonsense! You have to eat. I mean, look at you! You're so skinny I wonder if your parents fed you at all."

Victor gave no comment. He just sat, staring at the empty plate in front of him. Ayanna looked at the boy, wondering if he was feeling alright. Then she noticed something in his eyes. It was sorrow. But it was worse then that of her son's when his first dog had died. Ayanna thought it strange that someone could be hurting inside and give no outward signs. But because she had been a mother for 17 years, she knew when someone was hurting and afraid to admit it.

She put a hand on the boy's shoulder and he looked at her. But the sorrow was gone. She now saw nothing. It was as if he was trying to hide his emotions. Then Victor suddenly stood up and walked out of the room.

Because everybody was shoving their faces with food, they didn't see the abrupt disappearance of the small boy. Nor did they see Ayanna leave, following him. She found him staring out into the forest. "Are you alright?" she asked.

"Fine," Victor said.

Ayanna wasn't so easily persuaded. Something was bothering the boy. It had been made very apparent when she mentioned his parents. So she decided to ask about his parents. "Where are your parents?"

Victor slumped down on the ground. Apparently Ayanna had struck a nerve. She sat down beside him. "My parents . . ." he muttered.

"Is everything alright?" Aeris asked. Apparently she noticed that they were missing, and decided to find them.

Ayanna nodded. Then she got up to talk with Aeris. "What did you say to him?" Aeris asked.

"I just asked him where his parents were," Ayanna said.

Aeris nodded. "That was what happened then. His father is dead, and his mother left him."

Ayanna gasped. Poor boy, she thought. Unsure of what to do next, she turned back to the house as Aeris went to comfort Victor.

"I wish I could have helped him," Victor said as Aeris sat beside him.

Aeris was about to reply when Victor abruptly stood up. He was scanning the wooded area in front of them. "What is it?" Aeris asked.

"An animal. Some kind of dog, I think." Victor reached for his gun, only to find it missing. All of the group had removed their weapons before sitting down to lunch. He began to move towards the house, when a wild dog leapt from the forest. Victor's first thought was that the dog was attacking him. But its target was behind him. It was attacking Aeris.

Chapter 6