The Dark
By Aerith/Daphne
Sy
E-mail:
sephiroth_x@ameritech.net
This story is
especially dedicated to my friend Jane, a.k.a. Sephirah,
who so graciously allowed me to use her screen name for my star in this fic.
I am also
dedicating this to Cirrus and Rinoa’s Man, who gave
me their aid with this story during its origin, and to SdH,
whom the character
Thanks to all
of you who read this and gave me such generous compliments and reviews that
inspired me to work hard on this!
Part 1 (Prologue)- Rebirth
Chapter 1- To the Settling of Everything
The Lifestream flowed freely, unchecked and unhindered, the cherished blood of the Planet. The precious green substance surrounded and enveloped all within its power, following the drum-beaten rhythms and sweet melodies of life. All existence began and ended with it, nurtured carefully until they could be recycled into new lives; new souls to replace those that were lost. The dead merged into one channel, a river of life within death. All but one soul. The figure of a young woman could be recognized through the seemingly tangible fog of the stream. Her face was hidden within her youthful hands, the salty taste of tears fresh in her mouth. The flowing gown she wore shimmered as it was bathed in delicate light, a soft baby pink that displayed the vibrant color in her cheeks. It was low and long, sweeping behind in a graceful train of pure silk as she moved about. Her long chestnut hair was removed from its restraining ribbon, framing her gentle face as it spilled delicately over her shoulders and down her back like silken torrents of water. She was not part of the Lifestream- or was she? The Planet had honored her for sacrificing herself, so as the Planet's final "daughter," she ruled and controlled the Lifestream from within, forever watching, forever waiting... forever loving.
Cloud's eyes blazed with fury unmatched as he brandished his mighty sword, the blade shimmering with the image of Meteor from above. The brilliant blue sapphires locked furiously with the aquamarines... Sephiroth smiled cruelly at his opponent as if to taunt him, his long silver locks flying back with the coming Meteor's power. Images raged through Cloud's thoughts as he stared deep within his foe, finding the answers he had so long never understood within himself.
"Tifa, Mother, my friends..." They all raced through his mind wildly, uncontrolled in the budding fury as his anger rose, staining his entire world a brilliant crimson. It all ended with one last picture... a scene he would never forget. Her smile. Aerith's smile. She loved him. He loved her! It was beginning again... he swung the sword over her helpless figure, unable to control his own movements. Her blood had almost stained his hands... but in the end it did, for he held her in his arms that day, even if it was too late.
The red began to fill Cloud's vision, a deep crimson shade of blood, as he swung the sword above his head screeching, "OMNISLASH!!!"
Before he realized it the ordeal was over, and it was not her blood that was beginning to crust upon his sword; it was Sephiroth's!
His foe fell limp to the ground in death, a surprised Cloud victorious. The blood-strained blade dropped from his trembling hands, the tempered metal clattering upon the rough terrain that was now bathed in crimson. He fell to his knees onto the rocky surface in the depths of his mind, every remaining ounce of energy seemingly drained from his body. She was finally avenged; his quest was at an end.
As his tearful eyes looked forth to the hazed and darkened sky, a familiar hand reached from the heavens, blessed with youth and beauty. From within the misty haze, he thought he could hear her voice... a sweet tinkling laugh as he reached his hand out to meet hers...
From the Lifestream, Aerith cried out with joy, ever reaching for his hand, his loving embrace. She could see him, hear him, love him... She laughed in ecstasy as she leaned out towards him, falling through the image and into his waiting arms...
From the haze emerged Lifestream, the bright glowing mist that represented hope. Aerith moaned in pure anguish as she realized that she was nothing but a soul... no body to embrace him with, only a series of cloudy emerald wisps that floated delicately on the heavy winds. All she could do was surround him, healing and transferring her love through her touch... He knew her presence instantly; tears slid slowly down his cheeks as she caressed him with love.
The tender scene was interrupted when the ground began to shake violently underneath Cloud’s feet. Aerith gasped with fright at the abrupt intrusion and fled swiftly back to her station within the Lifestream, ready to protect her Planet with all of her power. Cloud was shaken out of his dazed state, finding himself face to face with the beautiful Tifa, who was leaning dangerously over the ravine, screaming his name in desperation. She shrieked in dismay as the ground beneath him began to crumble to dust, the fragments of rubble falling deep into the Lifestream below. Without warning, the unstable cliff below her collapsed and she screeched as she plunged, the echo of her voice reverberating throughout the crater:
"CLOUD!!"
"Tifa!!!" Cloud dashed to her rescue like a bolt of gold and navy lightning, bounding off fallen rocks in his mad rush. With all of the strength in his frenzied body, he took a giant leap… Time seemed to stop as he soared through the air, caught Tifa firmly in one arm, and grabbed frantically at the cliff edge in what seemed to be one fluid movement. Tifa gasped with fear, her slender arms wrapped tightly around her savior's body and her long black hair swinging wildly over the ravine. They could hear the faint splash of the rock face far below them... Tifa buried her face into his chest, feeling his racing heartbeat through the heavy fabric of the SOLDIER uniform. Cloud pulled himself up onto the cliff, boosting Tifa up gallantly before himself.
"If I go to the Promised Land... maybe she'll be there! I must see her again..." Cloud murmured to himself, his radiant eyes seeming even brighter as they rejoined their friends and fled to the Highwind. Relieved that everyone was still in good health, Cloud barked the order to depart from the crumbling crater.
"If we stay here much longer, Holy will toast us... Aerith or no Aerith..." His
face was grimly set as the Highwind's rockets flared
as bright as the intense
The Highwind’s sturdy frame began to crumble within Holy's powerful wrath as the spell purged the Planet with its fury. "Damn!" cursed a desperate Cid as he strained for the emergency handle on the deck with his fingertips. In a flash of blinding light, the Highwind shed its propellers and huge bulk, morphing into a sleek jet plane that blasted off into the sky with a powerful flare of its engines. They had escaped Holy... for now.
But Meteor was yet to arrive. Its gigantic mass loomed threateningly
in the sky, blocking the even the sun's most powerful rays like an eclipse...
The
Holy shot up high into the atmosphere, to the delight and relief of the heroes. With the help of the great white magic, Meteor would surely be defeated in one decisive blow. However, Holy soared like a majestic white dove of justice towards the darkened Midgar, ransacking the defeated city, destroying what remained of the battered Shinra headquarters. Completely neglecting Meteor, it would first wreak its revenge!
Aerith observed the scene of devastation from within the Lifestream, and with a scream of utter dismay, she gathered the souls of the dead with the power of her aura. "We have to help!" she muttered decisively, directing the Lifestream towards the fallen Midgar and the approaching Meteor. "We must protect the innocent!" she thought grimly, determined to see the destruction of Meteor and the salvation of the Planet.
A green mist arose from the dying land, the living also contributing their strength to the stream as it thickened and pulsated magically. Gathering over Midgar, it began to form the only barrier powerful enough to deter both the white and black magic; a shield made from dreams, hope, prayer… and life.
Meteor neared Midgar, looming frighteningly close and forcing the citizens to turn and attempt to flee for their lives. Its battle was nearly won... but then with surprising subtlety Holy turned upon its foe, and shooting violently into the sky, it penetrated Meteor with awesome amounts of power. It faded slowly away, the eerie glow disappearing from the horizon. The sun beamed radiantly over the land, which appeared to everyone as if it had been suddenly reborn, blossoming with new life. Joy reigned supreme in each of their hearts as life began to return to normal. The entire planet had remained mostly unharmed except for the destroyed Midgar, which lay in ruins, forever to remain a symbol for future generations not to make the same mistake.
--- One week later
Aerith sighed from within her lonely post in the Lifestream, victorious, yet somehow uncontented. She watched her friends celebrate their triumphant achievements, Tifa clinging to Cloud's side incessantly. Jealously boiled in her heart as she imagined them married, Tifa bearing Cloud's children... She turned away, her eyes burning with the sting of tears.
"Will they… forget me...?" she wondered aloud, miserable in the loneliness of the role she still had to play, even after death. She was unable to prevent a single tear from sliding down her cheek before she sensed the presence of someone else behind her. She whirled around angrily at being interrupted in her mourning solitude, but gasped slightly as she recognized the figure before her.
It was she! The witch! The cause of everything... the source of pure undiluted evil. Aerith's eyes burned fiercely with hatred as they settled upon the distorted and mutilated form of Jenova, her stomach turning with queasiness in her body as she absorbed the horrid abnormalities of her figure. Jenova smiled crookedly at the pretty girl, her dull eyes reading her thoughts, her fears. Her eyes were so clear to her… too clear. Jenova hissed sibilantly, the serpent that tempted Eve...
"My dear, you look so glum," Jenova sweetened her voice, the syrupy stickiness of the tone disgusting Aerith completely. "What is wrong, Ancient? Perhaps I can make is better..." a cruel smile appeared on her face, causing the truth of the matter to stare Aerith in the face. She was the cause... the cause of it all!
"Why should you care?! Go away!" she yelled harshly at the apparition, her emerald irises afire with righteous rage.
Jenova cackled, her evil aura destroying even the beauty of simple laughter. "Because... I think I can help you..." she began with an air of amused distraction.
Aerith's heart jumped wistfully but her sensible mind took over before she said anything she would regret. "I don’t need your help!" she hissed furiously under her breath before turning to flee before she lost her temper.
"Oh, yes you do, my dear, if you ever want to be with that spiky-headed lover of yours, Cloud..." Jenova chuckled cruelly, sending compulsive shivers down Aerith's spine. "Death is the one thing you cannot counter… alone that is."
"No!" shouted Aerith in distress, her bleeding heart betraying her mind. She clutched frantically at her shoulders for security, wishing he was there to defend her like he always used to...
"We can make a deal... You can have another chance at life. That is, IF you're willing to help me with the task at hand..." Jenova accentuated the word "if" with a luxurious hiss of her breath and chuckled as she morphed quickly into Cloud's image, a hauntingly thorough transformation, causing Aerith to choke in stabbing pain.
She cried out, a sob rising from deep within her throat. "W-what do you want from me?"
"Not much..." Jenova’s attitude seemed relaxed and casual, almost impassive. "I'd like to plant a few of my cells into you. That's all! I assure you, Ancient..." Jenova's convincing tone was too much for Aerith's broken heart to bear.
"B-but..." Her voice steadied as images of Cloud filled her mind, her heart. She choked back another sob as she realized that she was betraying her Planet- becoming just like Sephiroth. But... it was a small price to pay... to be with him. Jenova smiled evilly, her work almost complete. She effortlessly finished the torture by transmitting an image of Tifa and Cloud at the alter of marriage, her lips brushing his, bound in holy matrimony... Another image of the happy life they'd have together, their children, grandchildren...
"NO!!!" Aerith gave a strangled sob from her throat, and fell to her knees with the mental agony, tears cascading down her cheeks. "All right! I-I'll do it!!" she gasped painfully for breath, heart torn apart. She sobbed wildly, her head buried in her hands as she admitted her weakness to the greatest of her enemies. "I'll do anything… for him..."she whispered, head bowed in shame.
"Good... good..." Jenova sinister hiss was triumphant. Laughing cruelly, she reached towards Aerith's neck, her sharp claws penetrating her delicate skin. Aerith cried out in agony and collapsed into a deep darkness...
Chapter 2- Rebirth
Cloud climbed the walls of the crater with unexplained strength and determination. The Promised Land... something in his soul told him to go there. He ceased his steady ascent for a moment, surveying the rock cliff intently, seeing her face in the jagged stones with every step.
"She died before I could tell her..." he whispered, "Before I told her that I loved her..." A tear brimmed within his brilliant eyes and splashed without warning down his cheek and neck. "I have to tell her that I'm sorry."
Soon Cloud had reached the peak of the crater so he stopped to survey the land before him, searching for answers in the cold mountain air. Turning slowly, he stared at the setting sun, which seemed to shine an even more magnificent vermilion than normal through the crisp air of the cloudless night. Perhaps it was because he was so high in the atmosphere...? Nevertheless, it had been a long time since he had seen such a glorious sunset, so it stunned him temporarily. Its vivid colors surrounded and enveloped him, setting off his hair to a fiery hue and glinting fiercely off his blade. Suddenly, the sun gave a bright flare... and then darkness. A sudden and quick darkness, a blackness of night that penetrated his mind and body. Cloud shivered with a deep internal cold, apprehension filling his heart. He heard a sudden cry from the crater, a scream of pain and terror that sounded savagely inhuman, yet somehow… familiar. Drawing his sword skillfully from its sheath, he scaled down the inside of the crater at a surprisingly quick pace. "Could it be…?" Cloud thought, mind racing wildly at his feet stumbled over the loose rubble and stones which barred his descent.
Cloud emitted a cry of pain and surprise as he approached the center of the crater. With frenzied speed and agility, he leapt down the remainder of the shallow cliff and raced towards the shadowy figure that lay unmoving in the center of the mist...
"Aerith!!!" he shouted, tears coursing uncontrollably from his blurring eyes as he dashed to her side. Her eyes were still closed in death... She looked just like she had when he had last left her side, sunken in the Ancient’s lake so long ago. But something about her seemed… different. Perhaps it was the fact that the gown was no longer her normal attire...? But he was sure it was her... he knew it deep within his heart! He raced to her side with joy and dove to the ground beside her limp body, but she did not stir to greet him. Tears began to cascade freshly down his face, the bitter taste flooding his mouth and dripping over hers as he slid his arms under her, picking her up carefully. He cradled her limp yet beautiful head gently against his heaving chest as he wept, each sob wracking painfully through his body.
"What do you want from me, dammit?! Why are you torturing me like this?!" His screams of rage and anguish reached to the sky, reverberating around the crater powerfully. He sobbed wildly as he buried his head against her chest, his arms wrapped tightly about the body with passionate love... The faint throb of a heartbeat could be felt from within her stiffened chest! Cloud's heart raced with joy as he pressed his ear closer, searching...
"It can't have been my imagination! It just couldn't have..." he murmured to himself as the beating grew faster and more frequent. The joints began to loosen and warmth slowly returned as the body began to reverse from death. The pale dead flesh of the beautiful lips filled with blood, brightening to their normal lush pallor. Her gently closed eyes, which had once been dimmed and darkened in the shadows of death, began to twitch slightly with life as her long eyelashes fluttered delicately like the thin wings of a butterfly in flight. She opened her eyes slowly, blinking in surprise as her eyes focused and rested upon his face... She managed to weakly gasp out one word from her tortured lungs before her eyelids dropped in exhaustion and her body fell limp and faint once again.
"Cloud!!"
Tears ran freely from his eyes, flowing onto her face as he bent over her. He clasped her to his chest gently, joyously, praying that it wasn't a dream... that she was really here, with him, in his arms... "My Aerith..." he whispered lovingly. He rose to his feet with the girl still cradled in his arms. "I've got to take you somewhere safe!" he said, a determined look set solidly into his features. Grabbing the PHS that had been left in his pocket from their journeys, he barely managed to dial the emergency AVALANCHE number that connected directly to the Highwind with shaking fingers.
Tifa's melodious voice answered the phone, knowing whom the caller would be even before his familiar voice met her ears. "Cloud! What's wrong?! Where are you..."
Cloud’s urgent whisper quickly interrupted her, "Quick! Come to the crater! Bring the Highwind! There's no time to explain, but hurry!"
Tifa was confused and her gentle eyes lit up with fear and concern. "Okay, Cloud, we'll be on our way ASAP!" Her mind was filling rapidly with thoughts. "What if he's hurt?!" she thought as she hung up the PHS in a rush. She shouted towards the forward cabin. "Cid! It's Cloud! Go to the crater, and hurry!!!" She sat down with a tired sigh as the Highwind changed course and blasted off towards the crater. "Oh Cloud… please be all right!" she whispered under her breath.
Aerith woke from her deep faint tucked securely into a soft feather bed. The sun's rays danced in shyly through the crystal frosted windows of the best guestroom in 7th Heaven during the cold morning. Although many thick layers of blankets had been wrapped around her formerly unconscious body, she still shivered with a deep internal cold. She tried to muster enough strength to move her arms and pull the covers tighter around her body, but found that she couldn't through her exhaustion.
Her head lolled weakly to one side against the pillow, facing the closed door. She yawned painfully and observed the room around her with tired eyes. Cloud was sitting quietly in a chair near the bed, his chin resting on his chest, snoring softly. "Poor guy..." she thought with a tender smile, "He must be so tired..." Her eyelids drooped slowly as she fell once again into a deep slumber.
--- A Day Later
Tifa stared unhappily at the baking oven, waiting impatiently for her famous sourdough bread rolls to finish rising. "He hasn't left her side for days... he hasn't even eaten, and he won't speak to me or anybody else!" her tone rose with a slight sob as she spoke to mirror nearby in dismay. Her reflection was beautiful... a slim and dark figure, with velvety eyes and a creamy complexion. She sighed in exasperation as she turned from her image and back towards the oven. The oven timer buzzed, seemingly in remorse and compassion, as the rolls finished baking. Slipping a thick oven mitt over her callused and powerful hand, she withdrew the steaming tray from the oven. A sudden tear splashed without warning onto the hot metal, vapor hissing up from the drop. Efficient as ever, she slid the rolls quickly onto a smaller plate a carried them to the guest bedroom where Cloud was waiting for his "sleeping beauty" to awaken. She entered the room through the heavy wooden door, wedging her slim foot into the thin crack and nudging it open with her slender shoulders. Aerith lay still on the bed, pale and tired in appearance, breathing shallowly in her turbulent sleep. Cold beads of sweat lined her forehead, attempting to cool the wild fever that burned fiercely within her veins. Cloud knelt by the bed as he always had, waiting anxiously, his silence intense and unrelenting. Tifa's lips trembled with sorrow as she approached him, her footfalls heavy and tentative.
"Please, Cloud... eat something! You'll starve!" she begged, her dark eyes flooding with concern.
He turned and looked at her, eyes bright with fever and delirium, the sparkling sapphires emitting pain through their glance. "Please Tifa... I can't lose her again! Not again..." he mumbled. "I lost her once, I can't lose her again..." he repeated drowsily as Tifa burst into passionate tears.
"Cloud..." she managed to gasp through her tears, "You love her, don't you...?"
He stared at her, feverish eyes calming as he gave her a gentle but grim smile. He sighed deeply as he replied,
"Yes, Tifa, Yes I do..."
Her heart ripped asunder, Tifa took one last teary glance at Cloud and Aerith then dashed from the room, flinging the door open wildly. Cloud's eyes misted slightly at the sight of the deep pain within his childhood friend, then shifted to resume his vigil over the unconscious girl.
---- The Next Day
Cloud was now very worried. Tifa hadn't returned yet from wherever she had run off to the previous night, not even to sleep. He felt very guilty about what he had said... he had known that it would hurt her. But she did ask for the truth, and the truth was what he had to give her, no matter how painful it was to face. He sighed sorrowfully at the romantic memory of his childhood friend perched on top of the Nibelheim well under the star-studded sky so many years ago. But things had changed since then. Aerith had come to cross his path, and even he himself had changed so much in the past year. Aerith had taught him so much... about himself and about life.
A small moan of pain arose from the bed, snatching Cloud's thoughts away from Tifa and back to Aerith. Cloud leaned over her, fully concerned, as the light of day began to pour into the dark room, brightening it with an air of cheeriness through the dark shadows that lurked hiding within the corners. The sun sneaked in stealthily, resting upon the gentle face of the sleeping Aerith with a joyful bound. Stirred from her slumber, Aerith groaned slightly, her long eyelashes batting away the gentle rays with delicate fingers. Her eyes opened slowly and apprehensively absorbing the new day as they gathered courage and strength. They glowed with their usual luster and splendor, the rich emerald green sparkling brightly in the low light. Her eyes rested upon Cloud's weary but grinning face, and she smiled happily.
"So it wasn't just a dream..." she whispered, a joyous smile crossing her features.
For the first time in many years, Cloud blushed and smiled back genuinely. "No, it wasn't...."
Chapter 3- A New Beginning
That night, Cloud carried Aerith proudly into the Highwind, her arms wrapped tightly about his neck with love and joy. The entire party rejoiced as they saw their friend who had given her life so they could live, except for one lone person. A bedraggled and exhausted Tifa sat huddled in the corner of the deck, watching the celebration with her normally kind brown eyes filled with utter disgust. It was here that she had taken refuge after the previous night's flight. She had been crying all night, and her beautiful face showed it. Her mouth was drawn into a tight and angry line, and her eyes burned with a feverish fury. The rings under her eyes were swollen and puffy from lack of sleep and exhaustion. It didn't help that her eyes, nose, and cheeks were a bright pink from her stinging tears of anguish either. Setting down Aerith in a nearby cushioned chair they had set up especially for her, Cloud approached Tifa gingerly in apology.
"Tifa... I'm sorry about last night..."he began slowly, unused to and unsure of his words. He was greeted by a cold and angry stare from the traumatized girl.
"Hmph! Apology accepted," she said in a mocking voice, turning him away scornfully.
Cloud sighed unhappily for it was obvious that she was still badly hurt. "The wound may sting for a long time," Cloud thought to himself. "So I better be careful..." he murmured quickly under his breath.
Tifa snapped around angrily. "What was that?!" she screamed. All activity aboard the ship stopped momentarily to stare. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" her voice rose to an angry screech.
"Tifa, I..." Cloud never got to finish that sentence.
"Shut up! Just shut up and leave me alone! I don't need you! I don't need any of you!!!" she continued to rant, her eyes narrowing in anger. She rose suddenly, knocking over her small wicker chair in her rage. She rampaged through the deck, knocking things over, dealing powerful blows with her fists. She whirled about, arm upraised to destroy whatever was behind her with a smash of her fists... then stopped.
It was Cloud, his blue eyes filled with concern as he laid his ungloved hand gently upon her shoulder. Tifa broke down and wept, hiding her face within her metal-studded gloved hands. "I-I just-t wa-ant t-to be alone!" she sobbed. Cloud turned her gently until she faced him. He took her hands from her eyes and met her hiccuping gaze with a stern and steady expression.
"Why don't you go home and rest?" he suggested gently. She nodded in silent agreement and turned to leave the ship. Taking a single look back, she glanced painfully at Cloud and then dashed from the ship.
"Gawd…" whispered an astonished Yuffie, "I've never seen her so upset..." Yuffie's stunned expression was worn by all the people in the ship as they watched Tifa's figure retreat into the darkness of the night. Cloud sighed sadly, returning faithfully to Aerith's side.
"There's not much we can do... She needs some time alone." he said grimly. "But for now, let’s try to celebrate; it’s supposed to be a joyous day!" he bellowed into the decks. The others cheered in unanimous agreement as Aerith stared triumphantly off into the distance. Her eyes flashed bright as a cruel smile appeared on her delicate features... then shone again with their regular light as she shook her head in confusion.
"You ok?" Cid asked casually as he reached across the long table for more helpings. Aerith's gaze wandered off into the distance as she replied.
"Yeah, sure..." A bright smile came over her face as she stood, her long brown hair waving its coiled length in the light zephyr. She giggled softly like a schoolgirl as her cry rang clear and sweet across the deck:
"Let's party!"
The group of friends nodded in agreement as the night of festivities continued. Elmyra smiled proudly at the young woman that she had raised from a child as her own. Remembering the long hard day that she had found her, alone and sobbing fitfully by the train tracks, she recalled a dying mother pleading her desperately to care for her young daughter. She had taken her in tentatively, not sure whether she could keep her with her husband at war, and not knowing the child or her mother in the least. But she felt compassionate towards the orphaned child, and welcomed her in her home. "I couldn’t have made a better choice for a daughter," Elmyra smiled to herself. "I’m so glad she’s okay!"
---- Several hours later
The light ring of metal tapping against glass interrupted the laughter and gaiety of the group. Silence fell gradually over the crowd as they saw the normally silent Vincent rapping his wineglass with a fork for attention.
"My friends," he began, gazing around the room at his allies. "It has been a long time since I've felt so happy just to be with people... Let me toast our honored friend." He beckoned Aerith to stand. "Most of you know that I'm not good with speeches..." his head ducked in embarrassment, "But this woman gave her life for us, and for the benefit of our Planet... just as Lucrecia wanted to do with her research..." A tear sparkled in his eye as he continued. "And so each of us owes our life to her, even the Planet itself. To Aerith!" he said, raising his glass to the sky. Cheers of approval followed along with the tinkling of glass and crystal goblets. Aerith blushed deeply, her eyes meeting the floor shyly. Suddenly, Cloud's chair flew back as he stood up at the main table, and he hit his glass with a ladle, creating a loud bell-like ping which resounded through the cabin. Clearing his throat nervously, he began to speak in a shaky and uncertain voice. He approached Aerith slowly with his hand tucked in uniform and knelt to the deck humbly. Unused to creating such displays of affection and unsure of what to say, he felt awkward as he kissed her hand, producing a small ring from the folds of the heavy cloth. The friends gathered present gasped in surprise.
"Aerith... my love, I can't live without you! The pain of knowing that you wouldn't be there anymore, to gaze upon me with those eyes, to smile at me... it was too much to bear." his head bowed as his eyes began to sting with the pain of the recollection. "But now you're here with me... all I want is you, forever! I love you! Will you marry me...?" he blurted out.
Aerith's cheeks flushed deeply, joyously as she met his steady gaze with tears in her eyes. "Of course!" she cried. "I love you, my Cloud..." she fell into his arms happily, feeling his strong embrace, his love and passion as his lips touched hers, the wild cheers of their friends as they stood watching. The couple beamed, embarrassed, but she wore his ring willingly and happily as she clung to his side, unwilling to be parted from her lover. His arm wrapped around her waist securely, his heart afraid that lest he let go, she would be gone, that she would disappear again and leave him alone once more...
By the end of the month, the couple was planning their wedding. Aerith was joyous, but deep within her heart, that pinpricking, nagging feeling of cruel triumph would surface. She'd press it down, burying it deep within her emotional system, trying to forget... Instead, she spent her time enjoying being close to her love, his arm about her waist as she leaned her tired head against his muscular chest.
The wedding took much preparation, and guests from the world over were invited. Elmyra made her foster daughter's wedding dress herself, cutting and tucking the fabric into the latest styles, laboring painstakingly over every individual stitch, every embroidered blossom. Finally, she produced a dress fit for royalty, tucks of satin ribbons and silk trims lining the gown elegantly. She presented it to Aerith modestly, with a small but pleased smile worn on her face. Aerith's expression lit up with rising joy as she saw it, and she embraced Elmyra tightly with love, just like she used to so many years ago in her youth. Elmyra couldn't help but cry tears of pure happiness as she held the girl in her arms, for she would always be her little Aerith that she cared for.
After few more months passed, they were married with much splendor. It was one of the world's greatest events and was declared a worldwide holiday in honor of the two warriors. The church in the slums of Sector 5 was completely restored to its former glory, the radiant blossoms sprouting from the center of the aisles glowing with pride from their silky petals. The flowers decorated the church, spread amongst the pews and the seats, in the aisles, fragrant garlands streaming from the ceiling, marking the hole from which Cloud had first fell through the roof on that fateful day.
The couple strode down the aisle beaming with pride. Hardly a soul noticed the abnormal frailty of the bride’s figure, as well as the fact that she had lost weight and her flesh had paled considerably to a rather ghostly pallor. Nevertheless, the vows were soon recited and the couple was joined in holy matrimony, sealed by a passionate meeting of lips to the cheers of the company. Rice and flower petals were thrown in the path of the newlyweds, providing a lush carpet for them to tread upon. Aerith laughed girlishly and threw the bouquet among the women present and screams ensued as they all dove for it. Yuffie stood to the side casually, watching the frantic fighting with a humored wry smile. Her mind was deep in thought, but her sharp eyes caught an object flying towards her, and naturally, her hands reached up in reflexes to catch it. It was the bouquet! Yuffie blinked in wide-eyed surprise.
"Oh GAWD!" she muttered in shock as she stared wide-eyed at the object resting in her hands. She dropped it fearfully and dashed away from it as if it were a live rattlesnake...
Aerith chuckled at the commotion as she watched the bewildered Yuffie beat a hasty retreat into the underbrush.
--- About one year later...
"Come on, Aerith! You can do it!" Cloud cried encouragingly as he watched his wife’s thin figure writhe in agony. She screamed in pain and her bony hand clutched his tightly, her nervous coaching falling upon deafened ears. "Just push!" he cried over the clamor of the room. He was vastly worried... her labor was taking quite some time, and he was wondering whether she'd last through it in her condition.
"Just a little more!" said the doctor patiently. She screamed as she put all of her remaining strength into one last desperate push, one last chance...
"That's it!" cried the doctor. With a few quick snips, it was all over. "Congratulations! Here is your new baby daughter..." he said, gently handing a delicately wrapped bundle into Cloud's open arms. The tiny lungs wailed furiously as Aerith smiled ruefully. She held one of the tiny fists weakly in her own as it waved about. Her arm fumbled to stay upraised, but slid off the soft flannel blanket and onto the bed covers as she was drained of every ounce of strength left in her frail body. Then all became black....
"Aerith!" Cloud cried out, kneeling at her side. As she wailed pitifully, the baby opened her eyes... her glowing aquamarine eyes...
Part 2- Sephirah
The funeral was held three days hence. Cloud was heartbroken... She was gone once more, and this time they would not have a second chance. He held the baby to his muscular chest as she gurgled and played noisily, her bright eyes staring curiously about the room. He had named her... she had taken from him his love; she had destroyed his world, his heart.
He had named her... Sephirah.
Once again, she had died with a smile perched divinely on thin lips. Her face was peaceful, even though fine lines of pain creased it, displaying age that she hadn’t experienced in her short lifetime. Once again must he put her to rest... but this time in the ground.
Many people watched as they lowered the casket into the soil, watched as Cloud broke down completely into one last bout of tears... watched as the baby played, indifferent and ignorant to the situation.
Cloud was infuriated... she had given her life for another once again, but this life was not grateful. But deep in his mind, the pricking pain met him, reminded him that the baby could not know… that she would always be with him... that she loved him.
And so he cared for the child. It was a dull pain in his heart that made him keep from loving her as much as he could... a pain that would never leave him. But he did love Sephirah. He taught her to be strong and virtuous. He raised her properly, did everything that a real parent should... except show his love for her. Every time he picked young Sephirah up and swung her about, he saw Aerith's face. Perhaps it was the long silky bangs, or the innocent child-like eyes, but... he turned his head away and put her down, choking over a rising sob.
Sixteen years later, she had become a beautiful young woman. Her long silver locks were the envy of the town, not to mention she had better fighting skills than all the boys in the town put together. She had grown as a tomboy, swift and strong, lithe and sleek. But when she wished to, she could act like a perfect model of a lady, especially when Aunt Tifa came over to visit. Tifa and Sephirah shared a bond... Tifa had shown Sephirah the love that had been missing from her life... she had done what Cloud was unable to do.
And so Tifa taught Sephirah lady-like things... how to care for her abundant sliver locks, allure a guy, and far more. And Sephirah looked upon her like a big sister... no almost a mother...
Sephirah had never known much about her mother. All she knew was that she had died during complications after giving birth to her, the only child of her parents. Cloud would not speak much of his late wife to his daughter, for then he would turn away and head to a place of seclusion before breaking into bitter tears... the wound had not yet healed, the scar had not yet formed on the new flesh... And so Sephirah held her tact and her tongue.
On her 16th birthday, Cloud gave her a present, wrapped in a long oiled cloth. Her blue-green eyes glowed in curiosity and surprise as she unwound the strips of protective cloth carefully, revealing the sleek, slender blade. She gasped with surprise as she held it in her hand, the hilt balanced perfectly to her muscles. It was almost as if it were made for her... She hugged her father tightly, thanking him profusely as he stood there, dumbfounded at what he just did...
Later that long and fateful night, Tifa came to visit the Strifes’ home in the outskirts of Nibelheim. Sephirah flew happily to her, babbling excitedly about her father’s wonderful present.
“Happy Birthday, my dear Sephy!” she laughed. She hugged the slender figure joyously.
“Aunty, let me show you Daddy’s present!” she said excitedly, bounding up the stairs in a frantic hurry. “Come on!” she called to Tifa, beckoning her. Tifa climbed the stairs swiftly and agilely behind her. Entering the room, she was shocked to see Sephirah wielding the Masamune before her as the streams of bright sunlight created a crazy gleam in her eyes… Tifa gasped and fell back, pain searing across her chest with the memories. The scar still remained…
“No!” the shrill shriek rebounded from the rafters, catching Sephirah off-guard. Tifa crumpled to the floor in silent agony, clutching at the scarred flash as she winced and drew breath in agony.
“Aunty, what’s wrong?” asked a shocked Sephirah, dropping the sword with fright. It clattered harmlessly off the floor tiles, seemingly just a sharpened piece of metal…
“That sword…” she panted fearfully, “It can’t be! Is Cloud insane?!”
“What is it?” Sephirah picked up the sword and placed it on tabletop, backing away frightened. Her eyes widened in horror.
Tifa broke down completely. “That sword... did he never tell you?”
“Tell me what?!” cried Sephirah. Tifa shook her head.
“I can’t… I mean… your father and I need to have a talk!” she said, gathering her composure and remaining dignity. She descended to the stairs in search of Cloud, but could not find him in the house. She saw him, leaning blankly against a wall outside, sword drawn and hanging by his side in the shade beneath a tall willow tree.
“Cloud… how could you?!” she hissed. “You daughter had a chance for a normal life, and now you wish to take it from her?” she began.
It was an absent Cloud who replied to Tifa, pain consuming his soul like a dark flame. “No… she never did…” he replied quietly. A salty tear slid down his cheek, tucking itself snugly into a corner of his mouth. “It’s beginning again. She has to face her destiny as I did mine. I have learned that you cannot run from fate…”
“What do you mean?!” Tifa cried.
“I mean that she is Sephiroth. I have to destroy Sephiroth. I must kill my own daughter,” his voice dropped to a whisper. “The blood line has mixed… I’ve had all three staining my hands,” he looked down painfully. “And now I must have all 3 on my blade. Aerith’s… my own… Sephiroth’s… his head descended woefully into his hands, hiding away in them.
“Oh, Cloud,” Tifa murmured. “How do you know…?”
“Just… trust me...” he said, turning away. “And perhaps it’s time we told her the truth… about everything.” With that, he called her in a powerful yet grief-stricken voice:
“Sephirah!!”
The story had begun to be told that night, under the soft light of the stars that shone through the clear crystalline glass of the window. Tears were shed as many long forgotten wounds were freshly reopened during the course of those few days. The sun gleamed cheerily through the frosting windows, penetrating the gloom of the past, yet not penetrating the darkness of the tale as it sunk into each of their hearts. Breaks were taken for food and rest, yet Sephirah could not sleep peacefully with the horror of the story. “Sephiroth, Sephirah… It’s no coincidence. The Ancients… The very thing that Sephiroth lacked… I have by blood. He would say that the Planet was mine by right, as it was Mom’s…” she jerked her mind away suddenly. “I am not Sephiroth!!” she cried into the empty night.
Her mind strayed to something her father had mentioned near the beginning of the story. “The legend…” she whispered. “Sephiroth was never destined to succeed. Mom was destined to die. Dad was destined to spill Sephiroth’s blood…” she thought hard, recalling her father’s words. “Our Queen does not awaken. The one with blue eyes and the great sword on his back will not reach the Promised Land.” She shuddered fearfully. Everything had become true… Soon she fell into a disturbed and restless slumber filled with broken hearts and shattered lives…
The next morning, she rose early and dressed hurriedly. Sneaking out of the house quietly, she zipped
up a warm black coat over her house clothes, and ran towards the town-square of
Nibelheim. Running stealthily, her long
hair glinted sleekly in the light of the moon and stars as it streaked back,
fluttering gracefully behind her fleeing form.
Soon she had reached her destination: the great Shinra
“Let’s see,” she muttered, “’S’ for ‘Sephiroth’…” Her eyes grazed over the book, falling upon a stack that had been pulled out obviously a long time ago. The smooth leather bindings were coated thick with dust and cobwebs. Disgusted, she gingerly wiped them off with a coat sleeve and sat down. She flipped through quickly… “‘Shinra,’ ‘Jenova Project’…” she muttered, as she deemed the documents useless material. “Aha! ‘Sephiroth!’” she cried triumphantly as she slipped the faded ribbon bookmark into the page, snapping the covers of the book shut quickly. She stashed it under her coat and dashed from the basement, terrified that her father would awaken before she arrived home…
She sneaked quickly into the house, dashing silently up the stairs and into her room, where she undressed hurriedly, attempting to climb back into her pajamas. Halfway undressed, she whirled about to see her father standing in the doorway.
“Dad!!!” she cried. “Can’t you let me get dressed?!” she snapped, gathering her blanket to her chest to cover her in outrage. Cloud rolled his eyes at his daughter’s antics. “That’s not the important thing… Where did you go this morning?” he asked coolly.
Sephirah stiffened suddenly, tensing with a rushing fear. Did he know? “I was here all morning…” she tried timidly.
“Don’t lie to me!” Cloud hissed threateningly. “Where did you go?” his voice was stern and angry. Sephirah broke down into sobs. She dashed recklessly from her room, pulling on her dark trench coat as she fled down the stairs and out of the house. Cloud heard the heavy door slam below and he shook his head sorrowfully as he drew his sword and followed slowly after her, knocking on the guest room door as he passed. A bleary-eyed Tifa answered the knock, poking her head out grumpily.
“Is something wrong?” she yawned, opening the door for her old friend.
“It’s Sephirah. Get dressed and let’s go…” he turned away towards the door and quickly marched away, slinging his sword over her back with amazing agility.
“W-wait!” cried Tifa as she slipped quickly into her fighting clothes and ran after Cloud. “What’s going on?! Wait for meeeeee…”
Sephirah ran wildly down the dusty dirt path, the sharp rocks that her boots kicked up scuffing against her ankles painfully. She did not feel them, however, for she was too busy with her panicked flight to notice the many bruises and cuts that were oozing blood down her ankles and into her shoes. She ran until she could run no more, until she was panting and out of breath. Beginning to stumble in exhaustion, she tripped over a large flat stone in the road and flew forwards, smacking her head violently against a nearby rock. She went out like a light as darkness descended upon her vision, consuming her mind in a vicious black shroud of pain… She gasped sharply as her body became limp upon the green grass, staining it with a rosy tinge.
Darkness… Pain… Hatred… Fear…
Those words were given new meaning that night as Sephirah lay still in a comatose state. Her prostrate body was as still and cold as ice, her body fighting for life against the rushing blood, the life that was slowly draining away from her…
She found herself suddenly at the head of a small path leading towards a calm and peaceful lake. Her throat burned like fire, screaming at her mind for water, the scorching heat choking her, gagging her, each breath a burning blade rasping in her lungs. She tried to scream but found that she couldn’t; her voice box was dry and caked in her larynx. She ran with born desperation towards the water, that clear and sparkling fluid, which beckoned her, tempting her with it’s radiating coolness. She splashed into the cerulean waters, splashing it frantically into her face, her mouth. It healed the pain, soothed it, stroking her soul with its gentle touch… She backed out of the water and stood in the radiant sun to dry, her long hair soaked to the root. She twirled it casually around her palms, wringing the water out and shaking its shining length down her back, flipping the wet strands over her shoulder as she began to walk away from the lake, feeling reborn…
She felt a nagging itch on her bare leg, and instinctively, her hand reached down to scratch the spot. It made contact with something long and slimy, startling her. She looked down at her legs, her skin… and screamed in horror.
Leeches.
So many of them, hundreds, clinging onto her skin, sucking her blood, draining her body and killing her slowly, parasitic creatures that steal the very life from under your nose. She screamed, the sound resounding off the trees, the mountains... but she could not move her body. She collapsed to the forest floor in agony, the life ebbing from her body as a voice spoke.
“I figured that you’d understand better if I showed you this way…” laughed a deep rich voice.
Suddenly, the leaches disappeared, her voice returning to her shaking throat. “W-what? Who are you?!” she inquired shakily.
The voice laughed again. “Don’t you know me, Ancient?” he said incredulously.
Sephirah gathered her courage, rising to her feet and took a fighting stance. “Show yourself!!!” she cried into the sky.
The laugh grew louder, more focused. “As you wish, my dear…” it whispered in her ear. She whirled about, surprised and ready to battle. She gasped in terror, drawing back from the tall looming figure. She looked into the bright blue eyes that were so much like her own, the smile so familiar, the long lightness of his hair…
Sephiroth!
She gasped with terror. “W-what do you want with me…?” she gasped, stepping back slightly. Sephiroth laughed at her fear and smiled gently.
“You think I want to hurt you?” he said gently, stepping forwards towards her mesmerized form. He touched her arm gently, his large hands enveloping her biceps easily yet timidly, the soft caress relaxing her mind.
“I suppose you want to know why I made you go through with that experience, right?” he smiled at her. She nodded dazedly, her eyes never leaving his in distrust. He put his arm around her waist, a gentlemanly gesture as she slowly settled into a feeling of security as she leaned against his side as he lead her towards the sparkling lake.
“The Planet…” he whispered softly as the image of a small sphere appeared before her, resting into the outstretched palm of her hand. She shivered as the watched her world grow and develop, from the beginning of time and creation to the present, watching beautiful swirls of colored light encircle the planet, gathering in the North at the center of a valley, the colors merging, forming a stream of green power, of life.
“The Lifestream...” he said gently as she stared, her eyes focusing on the stream. Soon, small buildings, signs of civilization began to appear, scattered across the face of the Planet. A comet hit the image at one point in time and distorted the peace of the sphere, but as no harm seemed to be done other than the gathering of the Lifestream at the northern pole, she paid no heed. The activity in one city ceased suddenly as small red dots began to spread across the region steadily… then suddenly disappeared without warning.
Sephirah watched the many cities intently as they grew and expanded, feeding off the blood of the Planet. She noticed the reduced size of the Lifestream as it thinned out. Suddenly, green haze began to rise from a single metallic grouping on the land.
“The first of the Mako reactors… the beginning of the city
of
“The beginning of the adventures of a small resistance group called AVALANCHE, headed by Barret Wallace and an ‘Ex-SOLDIER’ named Cloud Strife, backed by the owner of a small bar in Sector 7, named Tifa Lockheart…” Sephiroth smiled as he said those names, elongating and emphasizing the vowels. Sephirah’s eyes widened as the three names rang in her ears. “Mr. Wallace? D-Daddy? Aunty Tifa?” she choked over the last two names, swallowing her sobs bravely.
He laughed heartily, not an evil cackle, nor a giggle of pure delight. Just a laugh of a normal human… “I see that you know these people…” From the area of the reactor, colorful wisps of light issued, gathering and traveling North. “The people who died in that explosion…” he pointed out as she gazed deep into the vivid spectrum.
“B-But… what do you mean?” she stammered.
“Just keep watching…” he gestured. Once again her eyes focused in on the
“The Lifestream... Is it where the souls of the dead go? Is that where Mom is?” she urged of him. He nodded. The stream began to fade even more, and soon a sound was evident… a long, painful shriek, the cry of a person in a deep tortured agony.
“The screams… Can you hear the cries of the Planet?” she nodded, fearful and shaken. She could hear it louder than others could because she was an Ancient, born to hear those cries. “That’s all it could do... scream, and no one would hear... or care for that matter. Just like the leeches… sucking the life from the host, useless parasites that exist only to make others more miserable,” he murmured, with a gloomy chuckle.
“Did Mom hear those too…?” she asked timidly.
“Yes…” he bowed his head shamefully. “That’s why…” he began, gesturing towards a spot near the north, towards a city that she had remembered had bustled with activity ages ago, but had gone dead after the sudden celestial body had collided with the Northern Mountains thousands of year ago. A scream issued from that spot, a cry of utter horror and agony. She jumped slightly, quaking with fear.
“W-What was that?!” she cried.
He hung his head, not proud of his deeds. “That… that was the death of the last of the Ancients. The slaying of your mother at my hands...” His arm wrapped around her stunned body tighter, but she shook him away.
“How dare you!! Bastard!!!” she screamed hysterically, tearing frantically away from him.
“B-But…” Sephiroth began.
“Shut up! I want to hear no more of this!” she threw herself to her knees on the floor, sobbing brokenly. “Mom…” she gasped.
“You don’t understand. You weren’t even born yet…” he said. “My mother gave Aerith another chance at the life I had taken from her, by my request. And so she was given it. Unfortunately, when you were born, she lost her life again.” he shook his head sadly.
She looked up at his clear blue eyes as hers filled with tears. “So it’s true… I killed her!” she murmured softly, ashamedly.
“I’m sorry, my Sephirah… it’s true,” Sephiroth said, putting his arms around her and leaning her head gently against his shoulder. Tears rolled onto his shirt, soaking it in their salty mixture, as she cried her youthful heart out in his loving embrace. Her bowed head rested against his chest, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. Sephiroth smiled cruelly. Only one more step left. He lifted her chin with a soft smooth movement and met her eyes to his own. He leaned down and kissed her passionately on the lips, her neck. His arms felt stealthily around her back, unzipping her dress, his hands caressing her bare back as he slipped the garment from her shoulders… she fell helplessly into his embrace, his sexual trap.
She was young and innocent… but not for long.
The last thing she remembered was his voice breathing into her ear as his lips grazed over hers, “Remember... no matter what we’ll always be together…”
She woke in his arms, his fond embrace. His strong chest heaved with strength in each breath of his sleeping form. She felt warm and comfortable as she leaned her head closer to his, the two shades of silver meshing slightly. She rolled slightly, taking in her surroundings. A familiar sight for her tired eyes… her room? She sat up, shocked. How did she get here? What would Daddy say when he saw them…? Her mind raced and panicked as she threw off the sheets, hurriedly pulling over her nightgown. Sephiroth stirred beside her, rolling luxuriously with a yawn.
“Oh no!! Daddy will kill us both!” she wailed.
Sephiroth laughed. “Don’t worry, my dear,” His arm snaked around her waist, inviting her back into the warmth of the bedcovers as he propped himself up on an elbow. “Hahaha… he’s already killed me once before! Besides, this is all in your mind… but that doesn’t mean that it all isn’t real. I am really here… with you… and I would like to ask a favor of you.” She nodded slowly, confused.
“Of me? Why... what can I do?” she asked incredulously.
“I would’ve appeared in real form, but as you know, your
father was the one who destroyed that possibility when he ran his sword through
my unprotected body…” she nodded in acknowledgement. “Well, you see, your mother was given another
chance by my mother in the Lifestream.
Unfortunately, my mother, Jenova, could only perform this favor once, so
she did it for the one she felt sympathetic towards… Aerith. To allow her to live once more, she had to
use what we call the pinion feather of the Dark Phoenix. The Dark Phoenix is the bird that results
when the very bird of life, the
Sephirah shook her head hastily. “Just tell me where to go, and I’ll do it... for you,” she finished decisively.
Sephiroth smiled towards the wall, an evil grin invisible to the young girl. He turned and swept her into his arms joyously. “Thank you, my Sephirah… Now here’s what you have to do…”
Pain.
A deep excruciating pain.
Darkness again… a merciful darkness
Sephiroth… the Dark
Aunty! Daddy! … Mother!!!
Feeling slowly registered into her brain, feelings of pain, sorrow, anger, and confusion… Her mind struggled with her body, fighting for control, for strength from her drained container as a pounding, crushing weight enveloped her skull, throbbing and probing at her brain, merciless and agonizing. She tried to cry out, every inch of her tortured body was urging her to, but she found that she couldn’t. The darkness was excruciating and lonely…
A bright light appeared ahead of her, a blinking pulsing star, filling her vision with white and blinding her temporarily. She heard a faint voice echoing around her.
“Oh Cloud…” it sighed.
“……” the grief-stricken voice grunted softly.
“Wait… did I just see her eyelashes move…?” the eager first voice was decisively female.
Her father gave a small and muffled cry of surprise, followed by Tifa’s disappointed voice.
“…Maybe not,” she sighed.
Sephirah’s mind raced. “But I did!!” she thought furiously, trying to move her stiffened body helplessly. Pain coursed through her like a stinging whip, causing a mangled cry of anguish to be squeezed from her tortured lungs.
“Sephirah!” a hoarse masculine voice cried in reply. She heard a form rise suddenly, the wooden grain of the chair creaking with the change of weight balanced on it. She could feel the shadow her father as he bent over her, watching patiently, worriedly. She groaned slightly and used her strength to lift her eyelids, which seemed as if they consisted of impossibly heavy stone. She managed to overcome the searing pain as her bloodshot eyes attempted to focus.
“She’s ok!!” Tifa cried happily, jumping to her feet, knocking the chair back from behind her.
Cloud began to weep uncontrollably, hunched over his daughter’s numbed body, his spiked head contained in his arms, which were resting gently on top of her stomach.
“Daddy,” her voice rasped in her throat. His head lifted silently, his cheeks and eyelids swollen and scarlet from his tears. A rueful smile crossed his face as she met his glance feebly, his throat choking with joyous laughter. Sephirah was surprised at the sight. She had never seen her father cry or even show his emotions before, and family friends had confided to her that he hadn’t shed a single tear in front of another soul since she was born and her mother had died.
A rush of emotions poured out of Cloud, feelings that he had hidden and bottled up securely in a distant corner of his heart for the past 16 years. His bitterness from Aerith’s death, the joy of watching his daughter grow and discover life, worry at her troubles, sorrow from the suffering of his loneliness… She attempted a grin back at her weeping father, a tear rolling likewise from her pain clouded eyes. Cloud leaned down and hugged her gently, rocking her back and forth lovingly. His eyes closed slowly as he bent and kissed her cheek lightly just as he used to secretly as she slept when she was younger.
“Cloud, perhaps you should let her rest some more…” Tifa said tentatively, interrupting the tender moment. Cloud laid her gently down on her pillow and stood, nodding silently at his friend as he turned. He glanced over his shoulder one final time before the exited the room quietly, allowing her to fall back into a deep slumber.
The next morning she woke to the peaceful chirping songs of birds outside her window, the sun streaming in cheerily, shadows dancing with the music of a fresh spring morning. The strength of the star’s bright rays empowered her, healing her battered body. She absorbed it gratefully, the warmth spreading through her entire body. She yawned tiredly, stretching her lax muscles… then sat up in shock and surprise. “I feel... fine…” she whispered, awestruck. She was in her room, as she remembered, like on a normal pleasant morning. She sprang energetically out of bed. “Wow… I feel good as new!” she thought with a laugh as she skipped down the hallway and stairs. With a foolish grin plastered on her face, she leapt the last few stairs, landing roughly on the rug at the base. The rug bunched at the awkward angle at which she hit it, and with a cry of surprise, she fell with a crash to the floor. Her head pounded furiously as she scrambled to her feet, gathering her bruised dignity as she dusted off her flannel pajama bottoms.
“Ok... almost as good as new,” she muttered into the air, rubbing the bruised thigh ruefully. She strolled into the kitchen to look for her father, finding Tifa instead at the stove, a cup of hot water boiling in the kettle. She held a ladle in her hand and stood over a small metal pot in the sink. “Geez… now only if I had some onions...” she muttered busily, flipping through her recipe book. She whirled around suddenly, reaching for a pan in the oven… Seeing Sephirah leaning in the doorway, she froze completely, gasping in surprise as she dropped her ladle in shock. Time seemed to stop for both of them as the plastic clattered noisily to the floor and Tifa stared, wide-eyed, at the healthy girl.
“S-Sephirah?!” she cried incredulously, bending fearfully to relinquish the ladle, her eyes never leaving the girl’s face. Sephirah noticed how her hand shook as she picked it up, sauce dripping onto the newly polished floor. Tifa stood up, tears rushing to her eyes as she flung the ladle into the sink and rushed to her, flinging her arms around her.
“Oh Sephirah!!!” she sobbed. Sephirah was shocked… What was going on?
“Aunty Tifa..?” she asked, returning the hug with a shocked expression.
“My dear Sephirah... I thought I’d never hear your voice again!” she cried into the girl.
“W-What do you mean…?” she drew back, confused.
“My child… you’ve been asleep for over a year!” she whispered excitedly. “You went into another coma after that day… and wouldn’t wake up. All the doctors in the countryside visited, trying to get you to come to, but you wouldn’t. Cloud was heartbroken…” Tifa bowed her head tiredly.
Sephirah was taken aback with shock. “A-A year?!” she gasped, stuttering over the shocking words.
Tifa’s head bobbed once. “Yeah…” Sephirah stepped back, shaking her head dazedly back into reality.
“By the way, where IS Daddy?” she asked Tifa, gazing around the room with interest.
“Your father went out for a little while on a job in the town. Some of the younger children got lost in the mountains yesterday. He’ll be back later today,” she said, turning back to her culinary preparations.
“It only seemed like one night…” she breathed. She heard footsteps outside, and turning around suddenly, Tifa rushed out outside to declare the news to Cloud. Sephirah moved deftly to the window, watching the weary figure trudge down the rocky path, kicking stones with his heavy hiking boots on the way. Suddenly, his eyes lit up in surprise as he slung his sword nimbly over his shoulder, rushing towards the house with outstretched arms. She cried out with joy and rushed towards him in return… then Tifa filled his arms instead. She saw his strong arms embrace the slender figure, his ungloved hand stroking her hair with love and gentleness. He smiled brightly as he looked into her eyes, locking the gaze as he leaned towards her, kissing her with a deep and obvious passion.
Sephirah’s blood boiled as she watched her father caress his lover. She ran furiously out of the house, slamming the heavy rear gate behind her as she confronted Cloud.
“?!” Cloud’s throat could not reply in his shock. “…S-Sephirah…?”
“How dare you, Father?! How dare you betray my mother like that?!” The words were ripped from her throat as her eyes blazed with fury. She had never felt so angry before in her life, but internally, she was surprised. “Why am I angry?!” she thought frantically. “This is something I’ve always wished for when I was little…” Yet the words continued to flow, continued to condemn… but it was almost as if she wasn’t speaking them. She tried to stop them, to cease the flow of profanities, words of hatred… but it was beyond her control.
"But Sephie..." he began, pleading with his eyes, her gaze meeting his like ice.
"Hah... well, goodbye. I hope you have a great time with Tifa behind Mom's back..." she sniffed as she walked away haughtily. She took a step into the garage, and out of the shadows, she drew the sheathed form of a long and slim blade, fastening the ties to her belt. With her head held high and dignified, she stalked down the path towards the town.
"Wait!!! SEPHIRAH!!!"
Cloud cried, regaining his voice as he watched his daughter leave
home... forever. He shook his head sadly
as Tifa put a gentle hand on his arm, leading him back into the house. Tears formed in the eyes that had begun to
cloud in pain and age. The beads formed
slowly, trickling slowly down the channels formed by his slightly creased
cheeks. Taking a single glance back, he
headed sorrowfully into the house.
It was soon dusk, and the dust slowly settled over the rolling hillsides, a slight chill settling into the land with the coming of night. Sephirah shivered slightly, control returned after the morning’s outburst. The sun glimmered sympathetically as it set over the distant mountains, seemingly retiring for the night as the creamy full moon and stars began to spread their gentle light over the peaceful land.
She had no idea where she had run to… She had gone where her legs could take her, seemingly with an inhuman strength... perhaps because he was with her? She could feel him beside her, within her… a part of her soul. She could hear him whisper... a whisper so faint yet so real... "I love you... my Sephirah."
She shivered in fear, wrapping her arms about her torso protectively. This couldn't be real… it had to be another dream... Yet she knew from the bone chilling cold of the feeling in her spine that this was as real as she was.
All she could do was pray for the best as she set sluggishly off down the path, the frost beginning to creep through her clothes, dragging her down with incredible weight. She attempted to continue doggedly as she realized in dulled panic that she hadn't recovered fully... Her eyelids began to droop with tiredness as the tears began to freeze them shut, and tottering slightly, she stumbled and fell amongst the weeds on the path, frost lining her face and hair, freezing her slowly as she drifted off into unconsciousness...
Her eyes focused blearily within the depths of her mind… cries could be heard from the depths of the darkness, cutting across her eardrums. Shrieks of pure agony, of pain, and hatred. Then… a song. The sweet coaxing melodies of voices in unison, united and harmonious. Her mind was peaceful, relaxed and at rest, her heart with neither fear nor apprehension. She stood in awe, gazing around her at the soft pulsing green waves of energy immersing her ankles. She knelt rapturously, dipping her hands into the mist, cupping them as she drew them towards her heart. The mist dissipated in her hold as she brought it up, dripping slowly back into the body of the fog. She stood, gazing into the blackened distances of the horizon around her. The Lifestream…
She felt a slight tap on her shoulder, and the back of her neck prickled with fear as she whirled around to confront the entity. She gasped in fear and apprehension, eyes widening as her throat attempted to wrench out a gagged scream of revulsion. The figure was hideous and distorted, with long pinkish tendrils slithering and trailing behind its slimy twisted body. A bluish tinge in its flesh reminded her of death and disease, spots in its skin blackened and mottled over the throat and jaw.
Sephirah opened her mouth to scream, but a tentacle snaked quickly across her throat and mouth, gagging her firmly but not too tightly.
“My child,” was its sibilant hiss, “Do you not know me?” Sephirah’s eyes clamped shut in revulsion and fear as she fought the hold valiantly. “Perhaps… this would be a more comfortable form for you…” A small deft twirl coupled with a flash of light revealed a young woman, dark of hair and eye. Her loosely pulled back hair shimmered gently, her spectacles gently resting upon a thinly bridged nose, reflecting the green of the Lifestream in her dark pupils. She was clad in a white lab dress, obvious intelligence shining through her very aura.
She smiled gently. “I am Lucrecia Hojo.”
Sephirah took a step back in surprise. “You mean, Lucrecia Hojo from the
textbooks? Known for many famous
discoveries, assisting the scientist Hojo as his wife in experiments? Some of which including… including the
lifeform found in the
Lucrecia slid her glasses further up her nose, smiling shyly. “Yes, I guess that would be me,” she blushed.
“Wow… It’s an honor to meet you, Professor!” she extended her hand to meet that of Lucrecia’s, but drew back suddenly with realization.
“Mrs. Lucrecia Hojo… died over 40 years ago soon after giving birth to a child that did awe the world by becoming the greatest SOLDIER… his name was Sephiroth. Had reportedly been seen periodically at the site of a waterfall near Corel, but 17 years ago, reports of sightings had ceased to appear.” She sniffed angrily in contempt. “At least those years of textbooks and school paid off finally. What kind of trick are you trying to pull over me?!”
“What do you mean?” Lucrecia looked genuinely surprised.
“I mean that you are a fake! Nice try, monster.” she laughed.
The figure looked disturbed, and wrung its hands in dismay. “Hpmh!” grunted Lucrecia. With another quick turn, and a more powerful flash of light, the creature revealed another form. She seemed vaguely familiar to Sephirah, an image conjured by same faint dream as her mind strove to remember.
Her thoughts wandered to an emerald porcelain vase that lay on her father’s nightstand, a vase that was always filled with fresh garden flowers. It had always been a mystery to the town why their garden flourished so, without the family caring for it, without them even weeding the patch. Cloud had always shrugged off the inquiries about fertilizers and plant treatments, leaving the villagers even more puzzled. She remembered how they used to lie amongst the sweet fragrances together, the sweet perfume of flowers filling their senses completely. Cloud would pick them fresh from the garden each Sunday to lay in the delicate vase at his bedside, straightening a small crystal picture frame that was lined with dried and pressed red roses. It was delicate and beautiful, an object that she, as a curious child, had never even dreamed of touching. It was said by family friends to have been made by her mother in her final days… by thin delicate hands as she carried her daughter in her womb. A smiling face lay within, guarding and guiding their souls and home with her gentle vigil. She recalled, “The vase was the color of her radiant eyes,” as her father used to say in a dreamy tone…
“M-Mommy?!” she gasped. A familiar scent of fresh garden flowers filled the air, catching her in its seemingly tangible embrace. She recalled many years ago, when she had discovered a bottle of her mother’s homemade perfume in an old forlorn drawer. She had used it sparingly since on special occasions, the pretty scent admired by men and women alike.
“My Sephirah…” the voice was silky in its joy. “Sephirah… come to me, my daughter. Let me hold you in my arms, just once…” She extended her arms in welcome, inviting Sephirah to fall into her embrace, to rest her tired cheek against her bosom. “You will forever be mine, Sephirah…” the voice seemed to echo from afar.
“No!!!” ripped another voice from the air, a strangled cry. Aerith’s eyes closed and reopened once, pleading with her daughter.
“Oh, my Sephirah, fight it!!” the voice seemed to be squeezed from her lungs. “It is too late for me... don’t let her control you with her trickery!” The eyes of the figure widened considerably with panic and pain. “She is not your mother… Don’t submit!! Agh!!!” A scream emitted from the woman, violently beating the consciousness into submission.
“Now as we were,” a smile lit Aerith’s face, a smile now seemingly fake to Sephirah’s purified eyes. She stared within Aerith’s eyes… she could see the dancing shadows flitting across… No, it was no shadow, but a monster instead!
“No!!” she screeched, swiping her arm angrily, startling the apparition. “I will not be your slave, you... you… witch!!” Sephirah spat. Aerith frowned seemingly in confusion.
“What do you mean, Sephie? I’m your mother…” a tiny tear slid down Aerith’s cheek, glistening in the low light. Sephirah turned away painfully, closing her eyes as she hesitated in momentary uncertainty.
“You are NOT my mother!” she backed away, shaking her head decisively.
The woman laughed cruelly, and with a final flash of light that caused Sephirah to flinch weakly, confronted her. “No, you’re very right, my clever girl…” a deep velvety voice sounded upon her ears. “I am Sephiroth.” The greenish eyes glinted, filling her vision with a pulsing, hypnotizing rhythm. She couldn’t resist it, not in his eyes… “I love you,” he whispered, catching her swaying body in his arms as he kissed her firmly. Strength broken, Sephirah submitted, allowing herself to fall into his control, his mighty power. The warm and pungent smell of flesh and sweat wreathed about her nose as he rocked her in his arms. Her eyes closed slowly as she rested her cheek tiredly against his bare chest.
“You are mine, my Sephirah,” his voice echoed around the Lifestream as the vision began to fade…
“Oh Cid, do you think she’ll be ok?” asked a woman’s voice impatiently as Sephirah’s mind came to through the haze of darkness.
“Heh… if she’s really Strife’s girl, she’ll have enough spunk to pull through,” another voice answered gruffly.
“I’m really worried about her… so you think we should call Cloud over here?” the woman whispered anxiously.
Cid chuckled lightly but heartily, coughing up a slight film of cigarette tobacco. “If I know those damned Strifes, they have a spirit of their own. We’ll wait and hear what the girl has to say first.”
At the sound of a friendly and familiar voice, Sephirah stirred and groaned, muscles stiff and aching from the deep cold she had been exposed to. She stretched and yawned sleepily as she recognized the figures before her.
“There ya go, Shera. She’s ok.” Cid shrugged as he puffed away on a cigarette.
“Oh, thank goodness!” Shera breathed a sigh of relief. “I was so worried…”
Sephirah gazed around the room. “Mr. Cid? Aunt Shera? What’s going on?” she groaned.
“Same question back to you too.” Cid said casually. “We found you layin’ half dead in a field close to the mountain. Care to explain what you were doing there?”
“Knock that off Cid! Wanna play the ‘tough guy,’ eh? You were as worried about her as a mother about her newborn baby. So shut up!” Shera intervened with a wink and a playful poke at Cid’s unguarded ribs. He grumbled ashamedly at her. “Well, honey, are you okay?” she resumed speaking to Sephirah.
Cid chuckled at the growing spirit of his wife. “Whatever, woman. But it really shouldn’t have taken a rocket scientist to see that she’s ok…” Sephirah’s eyes rolled at the awful joke.
Shera sighed. “Oh… just shut up, will ya?!” she yelled with a playful grin at Cid as he smiled in return through the heavy haze of cigarette smoke.
Sephirah sat up tiredly from the couch in the cluttered house where the Highwinds lived. The curtains in their living room were tattered slightly and objects lay strewn carelessly over the floor, but it was the way they liked it. Shera had always complained good-naturedly about the mess that she’d have to clean up every day in their cozy home, yet she never had the heart to let the house go completely clean. It’d seem so bare and simple for their personalities. Engine parts and science magazines littered the floor and tables, marking the life of busy people. The light filtered in through the shining clean windows, spots of light cast over the coffee-stained rugs through the time worn curtains. A delicious aroma arose from the stove as a teakettle whistled musically. Shera rose to her feet and snapped off the range, lifting the teakettle while searching through their cabinets for a tea set. With a welcoming smile, she poured the contents of the kettle into a small mug and presented it to Sephirah.
“Drink up, dear. Perhaps you’d like to share your story with us when you’re finished?” Shera coaxed. Sephirah nodded with the steam from the mug filling her eyes as she gulped down the hot drink.
“I-It’s rather hard for me to explain…” she began. “Well, you see, um… I need to research the
Cid grumbled reluctantly and lazily as he heard the request, pending it on his mind. Shera turned to him with a sly smile and elbowed him in his slightly rounded stomach. “Oh, honey, just do it for her!!”
“Don’t ‘honey’ me, woman!” he mumbled under his breath. Then with a sigh, he resigned and ground his cigarette stub forcefully into a waiting ashtray.<