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Unofficial - Prelude to The RescueShe sat alone, near the back of an empty room. The floor and walls were cold, gray stone; there were no windows. The only light came from a shimmering ward in the corner, the only other object in the room. She could see its faint green light on her dress, hear its soft hum in the air...and feel its presence in her mind, as it locked her stores of magic far beyond her reach. And yet, when Bowser abruptly kicked open the door, she still greeted him with a smile. "Here's your grub," Bowser said with a nasty grin. A cold bowl of gruel clattered at her feet, spilling some of its contents onto her dress. She looked down at it and smiled even wider. "Oh, good--you remembered the spoon this time. Thank you!" she beamed, as she wiped off her dress. "Yeah, whatever," Bowser muttered with a scowl. Still a smile and a thanks, after all this time. What's it gonna take to bring this kid down...? He shook it off quickly and grinned as he tried again. "Today makes ten days, Aeris. A week and a half, you've been trapped here!" "I know," she replied, nodding. "You must be getting lonely, staying here all the time...." "Me? Naah...but I bet you are," he chuckled. "Being cooped up in here, instead of with that boyfriend of yours...." "Well, I'm used to that," she said with a wry smirk. "And I know we'll be together again soon." "Do you? Then why hasn't he tried to rescue you yet? We've never even been under attack!" Bowser gloated. "I imagine he's still trying to find this place. You've done a very good job of hiding from him, Bowser." "You think so? Well, I do try. After all, I have to keep myself in--heeey, wait a minute!!" Aeris giggled. Bowser scowled. "So you think that's funny!" The koopa king stormed into the room, towering over his prisoner. "I ought to wipe that smile off your face right now!!" She giggled again. "Oh, Bowser...we both know you couldn't hurt me." And then the mood changed entirely, as Bowser backhanded her to the floor. Looking down on her frail, fallen form, even he scowled a bit, wondering if that had really been necessary. Ah well...it's not like she's dead or anything. And she's sure not smiling now! But then she looked over to him again, as she brushed a few drops of blood from her cheek. She was still smiling after all...albeit much more weakly, now. "On the contrary, little miss 'princess'--I can, and will hurt you!" Bowser sneered. "In fact, I'll gladly finish you off, if I have to! So you just think about that, until your boyfriend gets here...if he comes here at all!" He started to walk off, laughing to himself. "...I know you won't kill me, Bowser," Aeris said, shaking her head. He whipped back around with a snarl. "And what makes you think that!?" the King of the Koopas roared. She gave him a warm smile. "Well...that would ruin your fun, wouldn't it?" Bowser's eyes narrowed. Memories of an encounter he'd tried to forget came flooding back to him, and he let out his most feral growl yet. So have fun, Bowser....Because evil's out of your league.... "...you high-and-mighty wizards think you know everything," he rumbled. "You're just like him, aren't you?" She blinked a bit. "'Him'? What do you mean...?" "You get your hands on a little magic, and you think you're all-important. You don't respect true power!" the turtle king bellowed. "Well, we'll see how evil you and Sephiroth think I am when I rip your boyfriend's heart out through his throat!!" With that, he stormed for the exit. But when he turned to lock the door, he paused as he caught a glimpse of Aeris' face. It had finally stopped smiling...and now stared open-mouthed in shock. "What, did he try to kill you or something?" he asked as he shut the door. Back |