Fic: On the Side of the Road(FFVII/Heralds, Zack, Cloud, Tifa, Aron)

[icedark_elf]

Fandom: Final Fantasy VII/Heralds of Valdemar
Title: On the Side of the Road
Author: GW Katrina aka icedark_elf
Theme: 18-Running(General Table)for 30_somethings
Pairing/Characters: Zack, Cloud, Tifa, Aron(oc) mentions of Angeal and Sephiroth
Rating: PG-13
Wordcount: 909
Disclaimer: As if I owned these guys....
Critiques: yes
Beta: skeren
Summary: While traveling to deliver a message, Zack finds something unexpected.



“You know, you’d think if Angeal could get us as far as this, he could get us the rest of the way to the Vale, wouldn’t you? Especially since we’re taking -his- message to Sephiroth.”

A snort was his answer, and Zack gave his Companion an amused look. “You’re the one walking this. One would think you’d be the one unhappy over it.”

And you are the one that I can knock off my back if I want. Then where would you be?

“On my ass in the dirt, I guess,” Zack said cheerfully, patting Aron’s shoulder. “And you would have to listen to me whine. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

Aron snorted again, giving his head a shake. Anyway, you know how it is. Mages can only Gate to where they have been. The Vale has moved since he last visited. And so he sent us the closest to where he knows they are now.

“I know, I know. I’m just happy that we have enough....”

He stopped, tensing, eyes going blank as a vision slammed into his brain. Fire and pain and blood on white.

Zack!

Shaking his head, Zack gagged. He could taste the smoke and ash, and smell blood. “A Companion....”

A wide blue eye looked back at him, and then shook his head. Where?

“East!”

Feeling the muscles bunching under his legs, Zack clung as Aron started that way, looking for any landmarks that were visible in his Foresight.

Turned out, he didn’t need to keep that much of an eye out.

Even as they ran, they saw the fire bloom up, and they could hear a Companion scream.

Aron ran faster, hoofs ringing off the stone as he scrambled up the slope, Zack focusing on reaching out and trying to calm down the Companion as he let her know that they were coming. He didn’t know why a Companion was this far south, besides his own anyway. And she wasn’t alone. Her Chosen was untrained. Zack could feel that, laced through the power.

Reaching out, he could Feel their fear, and the sheer panic in the Herald trainee’s power. Thankful that Companions were much more sure footed than regular horses, as well as smarter and faster, Zack could focus all his attention on this. Animals, even smart ones, were hard to focus on. Only the strength of his Gift let him even make any kind of contact, and he sent fear to the creatures. It was hard, focusing it on them, and not letting it make contact with the two he was trying to help.

Whatever was attacking the two, most of them were running. Between the fire and the fear, even the most predatory of animals were willing to run. Even creatures that came from the tainted lands that surrounded the homes of the Tayledras were afraid of the combo.

By the time they got over the rocks between them and the others, there were only a few creatures for Aron to finish driving off, his Chosen clinging to the saddle, the start of a reaction headache already flaring.

Hooves flashing as he chased the last few...whatever-they-weres off, Aron circled around and trotted towards the other. She was shaking, head low, blood and ash streaking her sides. On her back was a pale boy, blue eyes wide behind shaggy blond bangs. He was shaking just as bad as she was, and Zack didn’t need Aron’s nudge to know that the kid was about to fall off her back.

Tifa. Her name is Tifa. And she says his name is Cloud.

Cloud? He was a fluffy little thing, but Cloud didn’t seem right....

“Hey, Spike. Don’t fall off, please?”

Course, the kid didn’t seem like he was going to listen, and Zack got Aron to slide up right next to Tifa and Cloud. Reaching out, he steadied the boy.

Given the start that ran through the smaller boy, Zack wondered if the kid had even noticed they were there. “Cloud? I’m Zack. You’re okay, though your head is probably hurting....”

And that’s what Zack got out before Cloud made a small sound and went limp. Yelping, Zack lunged over a bit and snagged the kid, dragging him over onto Aron.

Tifa jerked her head up, looking over at him with a bit of wild look in her eye. “Calm down. I’m not going to hurt him,” Zack said, headache getting even worse as the sudden contact made his empathy spike. Ow. Thank god for shields. “We’re going to go somewhere safe.” He looked around, seeing the scorched rock and earth.

“Hell. Kid’s firestarter, isn’t he?”

What were the odds of that?

Wrapping the best shields he could around Cloud, Zack rubbed his temple. “Aron, does she need anything?”

A moment of quiet, and Aron sighed. She says no, but I’ll keep an eye on her. She’s going to be exhausted. I’m not sure how long they’ve been traveling, but they are a ways from home. I wonder how they got here?

“Who knows. Anyway, I don’t think we’re far from a town, if not the Vale. Let’s get going, and we’ll do what we have to.”

Head aching, he settled the boy more comfortably against himself. Another few moments as Aron talked to the other Companion, and Zack got everything set, so they started to move.

Later, Zack would get his answers. Right now, he just wanted sleep. And a cup of willowbark tea.

Comments

[ladyj.insanejournal.com]

OMG! You crossed FFVII and Heralds! How awesome!!!! and Tifa as a Companion and Cloud a Firestarter! I love Mercedes Lackey and The Heralds of Valdemar are like a comfy blanket to me. I could continue jumping for joy but for now I wll just wait impatiently for more.

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

I'm not the first on. tripoverhercats wrote one for a gen-challenge fic. You should check hers out, as it is -awesome-

I love Heralds, and it makes me happy when I read them.

Tifa wasn't too happy about turning into a horse like person, but it lets her hang out with Cloud, so she dealt with it. And Cloud as a firestarter, well, I -like- firestarters.

Got Aeris, Sephiroth, Vincent, Angeal, Genesis, Zack, Tifa, Cloud, and Cid figured out. Aron is an OC based off another oc of mine, but he's fun. *is a Zack-twin. Enjoys Aaron far too much when writes him*

But, yeah, I do love this series idea on my head. It's been fun to play with, lots.

Now I just need an icon.

[chibirisuchan.insanejournal.com]

XD XD XDDDDD If Sephiroth ISN'T a firestarter then there's no justice in the universe, is all I can figure. ^____^

I'm like most of a decade behind on the Lackey books, but I read the first couple series way back when, and you've got all the little detail bits nailed...

[artimusdin.insanejournal.com]

EEEEEEEEEE! Tifa as a horse-shaped person! Cloud as a fire-starter~! .... you just like fire in general, don't you? *eyes you*

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

I pulled out my Last Herald Mage books to play with and reread. Plus, well, I -love- her books, and I have most of them.

Seph is a firestarter, of sorts. Well, he can call fire. *grins* Guy is, of course, a Tayledras adept. So lots of silver hair.

And Aeris just started her training as a Healer-Mage.

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

Fire is fun. Plus, I get to play with it everyday(woodstove).

Tifa is so a horse-shaped person, and she's going to be as curious as all get out when she hits the Vale. Hawkbrothers!

[ardwynna.insanejournal.com]

OMG! Herald Zack! Cue the squee! God, Zack in whites, Tayledras Seph, hm, yes, because his companion animal should have wings... *drool*

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

*chuckles*

Yeah, that, and all that loooong pale hair is prefect for a Tayledras. *nods*

Zack is just awesome. That he is. Period.

[yuenoclow.insanejournal.com]

*flails* OMG, you must write more! 'Cause dude, FFVII/Valdamar x-over! Hee, poor Cloud, ending up a firestarter.. I'm just hoping he doesn't end up going the way of Lan Firestorm. That'd be *really* sad...

[lady_cinnibar.insanejournal.com]

I love you. I really truly do. Eeeeee!!! Herald Zack, and trainee Cloud! Eeeee!!!! Aeris is a Healer, right? And since Heralds can be rather... free when not on duty... Yay!

[ktoth04.insanejournal.com]

O, I like >.>

But what is heralds? >.>

[madamhydra.insanejournal.com]

Woot! Heralds! I really love Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series. Unfortunately, her recent stuff doesn't do a thing for me. >_>

Yes, Sephiroth is perfect for a Tayledras adept. Aeris, too. And of course we must have the Zack in those 'please shoot me' whites. ^_-

... but I miss the chocobos. ::sigh:: Unless they're lurking somewhere near the Vale (a la the gryphons)?

*awwed*

[(Anonymous)]

...0_0... *wibbles at Zack-as-a-Herald* this should be very intesting

[elanor_pam.insanejournal.com]

I don't really know anything about Heralds of Valdemar, but it sounds like a cool universe.

Only... is Tifa a horse? A HORSE? The CloTi shipper in me is curled up in a ball of NUUuuu. XDDDD;;;

[aikonamika.insanejournal.com]

Heralds of Valdemar~! *heart bubbles*

Looks like Herald Zack has a nice little plethora of Talents, too. *grins* Foresight, Mindspeech - or at least enough to talk with his Companion - and a touch of Empathy/Animal Mindspeech? I'm guessing Angeal's a Herald-Mage.

Glee, look forward to where this is going. ^_^

[talannius.livejournal.com (from insanejournal.com)]

XD I love Heralds of Valdemar. They introduced me to yaoi. I still haven't finished the series, actually..*makes a mental note to get the next few books*

But...but Tifa's a magical horse! :P The CloTi shipper in you should be placated by the fact that they have a SPESHUL MAGICAL BOND.

Oh, God, lifebonds. Lifebonds are going to come into play here, aren't they?

[guiltyred.insanejournal.com]

Oh, God, lifebonds. Lifebonds are going to come into play here, aren't they?

*BOUNCEBOUNCEBOUNCE* ^__________^

The Last Herald Mage holds a special place in my heart -- and this fic has me ALL sorts of happy!

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

*snickers* I'm glad you are enjoying. I love the Heralds series, and the idea of fusing it with FFVII just makes me happy.

I don't plan on Cloud going the same way as Firestorm, but the fact he is such a strong one worries Zack. Everytime they get a strong firestarter, war is coming. *pats him*

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

*grins* Herald Zack is awesome.

Aeris is a Healer-Mage in training, so she's in the Vale as well. Which makes for the group there.

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/qofaqh.htm

Basically, Heralds is a series of books by Mercedes Lackey. Companions, who are spirts shaped like horses(most of which are reincarnated Heralds) Choose people to become Heralds. They have psychic abilities, ranging from Mindspeak to Firestarting, to pure Mage talent. It ranges, and are an excellent set of books. I highly recommend the Last Herald-Mage series.

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

I like the Elemental Masters, the Bedlam Bards, and the 500 Kingdoms. Though I'm just a big fan of her stuff, period. Bards is starting to get boring, though.

Zack rolls his eyes at the please shot me whites, but he's seen the whites Angeal came back with, and he wants the shinies.

Cloud is going to be so confused. *pats the kiddo*

Chocobos! I aaaaaalmost made Companions chocobos, but decided against it. They are around, though. *grins*

Re: *awwed*

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

Yeah. Zack as a Herald is going to be -awesome-

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

*pats you*

Yep. Tifa is a horse. Sort of. Magical, "I can kick your ass nine ways till Sunday", telepathic horse.

She will completely be Cloud's best friend. Like most Companions are.

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

*grins*

Mmm, Vanyel. He's totally the reason I understood I wasn't the only one who wrote pretty boys and pretty boys.(found him just before I found fandom)

*giggles about lifebonds and runs off*

And as I write that, Aeris's Theme comes on.

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

*grins* I'm glad you are enjoying it.

Yeah, I love the LHM. It's one of my favorite series, period. First Lackey books I ever read.

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

*grins*

Let's see.

Empathy is his strongest by far. I get the feeling he learned a lot from the Healer. The reason he ended up being Angeal's student instead of another Herald's was because Angeal was one of the few in the Collegium who had any kind of Empathy at all and -wasn't- a Healer.

Let's see. Empathy is the biggest one, with Foresight right behind it. Mindspeech is okay, not the best, but he manages, and the reason he is amuse is because he had a tiny bit of Firestarting himself.

Nothing major, but enough that he doesn't tend to carry things like tinderboxes and such.

Yep. Angeal is a Herald-Mage. *evil grin* And his Companion is Genesis.

[aikonamika.insanejournal.com]

*nodnods* All of that makes quite a bit of sense. Zack would be awesome with Empathy, actually. *grins*

...and I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything, or it would have gone spraying at the news of Genesis as Angeal's Companion. I choked nevertheless. *snickers madly* That's hysterical.

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

*cackles*

[ktoth04.insanejournal.com]

thanks! :D

[lady_cinnibar.insanejournal.com]

So, is this post-Elspeth, or pre-Vanyel, what with the mages? I'm guessing post-Elspeth, as the close bonds with the Vales.

Is Cloud from one of the odd settlements in the Peligir hills? If so he'd be familiar with hawkbrothers, as they're protectors of the villages in their areas, but totally going -what?!- over the Heralds. See, a small part of me thinks Cloud should have been from the Shaman lands, maybe the settled and peaceful half of the Wolf tribe, and he'd come through the Pass.

Of course, he could always come from farther South.... (I have the Compendium, and I'm not afraid to use it!)

[kyuohki.insanejournal.com]

you're just ebil (ebil is worse than evil as it's spelled with a "b")

[kyuohki.insanejournal.com]

I really enjoyed the early Heralds of Valdemar books: the Arrows, Winds, Last Herald, and Storm. Unfortunately, some of her later books in the series seem to be contradicting what she had already written. I haven't enjoyed of her works recently...(though that might be due to the rumor I heard of her slapping fanfic writers with cease and desist orders when people try to play with the characters....)

What timeline are you using here? Pre-Last Herald, or Post-Storm?

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

Way post-Storms. Nodes have finally started to get back their old strength.

She's always been pretty good about stuff, though she does ask that some things change. Like, if you are in the Arrows timeframe, make it so Kris comes limping back into camp later. Just enough to change it from her world.

I loved her Weaponsmaster set. *hugs him* He's awesome.

A lot of what I'm using here, though, is from LHM. Mostly cause that's the book I can find.

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

Post-Elspeth, long enough that magic has mostly flown back into the way it should be.

Cloud is half-Shin'a'in. He was traveling for Hawk's Nest, where legend has parts of his family live, in an effort to get away from his clan, who aren't too happy with his half-outlander blood. *pats him and his fuzzy blond head*

I need to find my Compendium. *scowls at boxes* Why have you eaten all my books, moving boxes of doom that I'm too lazy to unpack?

[lady_cinnibar.insanejournal.com]

So a few hundred years post-Elspeth? Since I recall they said as much? No. Wait, the Tayledras straightened out the nodes and leylines, and it took them, err, 1400 years, by the timeline if I recall right. I think.

He must not be from Tale'sedrin. They like outsiders. After all, Tarma's oath sister was Kedry, an outsider, and she married an outsider.

Hmm. I'm familiar with the moving boxes. The only book I've found of my whole Lackey collection has been the Compendium, and that mostly because I forgot to pack it with the books and packed it with my pillows. :) I haven't unpacked the books because the father creature has been too lazy to put up the bookshelves. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. ;P Doesn't mean I haven't opened half the boxes and rummaged for books to read.

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

I think his grandmother or her mother was Tale'sedrin, but married into another clan. Thus, the blond got extra boost, though by this time, who knows how friendly they would be with outsiders. Course, their main reason for staying on the Plains is also gone, really.

Yeah, it's been a while. A long while.

[byakkos_kitten.insanejournal.com]

have you tried the Dragon Jousters series? That's pretty good too.

[zack_fair.insanejournal.com]

Ooh, yes. I love the first two books. Third I'm not so crazy about. But dragons+Eygpt will draw me in like nothing else.

[byakkos_kitten.insanejournal.com]

have you read the fourth yet? It's pretty good too.

[inoru_no_hoshi.insanejournal.com]

Made of win. :D (*lurky reader*)

Have you posted more of this and friending is necessary to see it, or was this just a teaser? *curious*

~Mara~

[icedark_elf.insanejournal.com]

Haven't gotten any more done yet. Was off line for a while, and still getting back into the swing of writing. *grins* I'm glad you like it. If you want to see other fics that are FFVII/HoV, check out tripoverhercats. She's got one.