Emerald Eyes
By Aeris_15
Prologue:
Ifalna Gainsborough admired her newborn baby's green eyes as she held her in her arms as if she never wanted to let go of her. She and Professor Gast had already picked a name for her. Her name was Aeris - Aeris Gainsborough, and she will be the savior of the Planet. Ifalna could already imagine what she would look like when she grows up. Running her hands through her daughter's hair, she thought of herself, and the situation they were at right now.
She shook her head, and shrugged the thought away. It was February, and next week would be Valentines Day. She slowly walked towards the window and admired the calm atmosphere outside. It was snowing heavily, and she thought about the nature's beauty of Icicle Inn. It was true the weather had been very cold lately, and yet she couldn't help but find it very beautiful. It was all white - like a bed of marshmallows, so pure, and so soft. Ifalna turned to look at her husband, Professor Gast. He seemed to be paying attention at a bunch of folders that he took out from his files. He seemed very busy and he didn't look too inviting. But still, that didn't stop her.
"What are you looking at?" Ifalna asked him, as she stood next to him and frowned at the sight of the folders.
"Just reviewing..." he replied firmly, as he put the piece of document away. "You know... about Jenova and the Cetra. I'm still not sure about my theory. I want a clear answer."
"Why don't you give it a rest for now?" Ifalna sighed and she gently offered Gast their daughter. "Here. You never got the chance to hold her long enough."
Professor Gast smiled in appreciation and took Aeris from her arms. He looked down and kissed Aeris on her little nose. As his lips touched Aeris' nose, he felt the tenderness of her Cetran skin. "Ifalna-darling, she looked exactly like you..." he cooed.
Ifalna giggled. "But she's more beautiful and special."
"She will be the talk of the town tomorrow," Professor Gast stated. Suddenly his smile faded and looked at his wife in a worried glance. "We must be careful and protect her. You never know what Hojo may be up to at this point."
"If that's the case then..." Ifalna paused and she reached behind her hair, removing a white orb and a pink ribbon from her ponytail that she always wear. Professor Gast watched her with his mouth open as Ifalna bent down and she gently tied the ribbon and the white orb on Aeris' tiny hair. "Let her keep this. Her safety is up to the power of Holy from now on..."
"I-Ifalna..." Professor Gast stammered, looking at her with moistened eyes. "The white materia is Holy?" He seemed rather surprised at what he just found out.
Ifalna nodded and turned away from him. "Yep, that's the key for this Planet's safety. Aeris will need it for her protection. I won't need it now. With that on, she will know her destiny - what she must do to save the Planet when the time comes."
There was a long moment of silence as the two of them eyed each other. They never even realized how Aeris looked with that new ribbon that she had on.
Professor Gast and Ifalna never said a word to each other after that until the next day came. Ifalna walked outside as she held Aeris in her arms. She came out to stop by the market for some milk for Aeris. The day was warmer this time. The sun was so high in the sky that it was almost impossible to look up to admire the clouds. Professor Gast's guess was correct. Aeris was the talk of the town, for as Ifalna made her way to the market, a lot of people had looked at her and whispered in front of her. But Ifalna only shrugged and smiled at the sight of them. She was used to it. After all, she was a Cetra. She was quite popular in the town.
She walked passed many people as her winter boots made a soft kind-of-crunchy sound against the snow. It took her at least two minutes to finally get to her destination. Ifalna entered the store and greeted some customers, which she knew.
"Good morning, Ifalna," Helen, the store's owner welcomed her. Then she eyed the tiny baby that Ifalna was holding. "Oh wow... I wasn't sure if the rumor was true. I guess it is now. Is-is that baby yours?"
Ifalna gave her a smile with pride and looked at Aeris proudly. "Yes. Quite a beautiful little girl, isn't she? Her name is Aeris."
"Aeris, huh?" Helen repeated. "That's a very cute name... I mean, for a young Cetra like her. Right?"
"I named her after one of the first Cetra people of the Planet - Princess Aerith," Ifalna added. "It has always been told by many Ancient stories that Aerith was the most honored Cetra."
Helen giggled. "Pretty interesting. I have to learn more about your heritage."
Ifalna whistled as she then made her way back home. She didn't know that she had been chatting with Helen for thirty minutes. She just remembered that she and Professor Gast still had to tape more videos of them. She got back and already found Professor Gast preparing the camera for their next report.
"Sorry, I'm late, Honey..." Ifalna called out to him. She placed the milk on the table and walked up behind him. "We can go on to where we left off from yesterday now."
Professor Gast turned around and shook his head. "I'm afraid we can't do that."
She frowned at her husband. "But... this... isn't this important to you?" Ifalna couldn't just imagine a scientist turning down on something like this one. But her frown disappeared when Professor Gast suddenly smiled and took Aeris in his arms.
"We will be video taping our most dearest daughter!" Gast exclaimed in excitement.
Ifalna laughed. "Honey, Aeris is our ONLY daughter."
Professor Gast turned the camera on and turned it to Aeris' direction. "Smile now, my princess."
They all laughed as they were enjoying themselves through their own camera's lens. Laughing in happiness, they were suddenly interrupted by loud gunshots. Professor Gast scowled and turned his attention to the door where he found Hojo and the Shinra Guards.
"H-how dare they intrude us in our private moment...." Professor Gast mumbled angrily under his breath.
Ifalna's heart started beating fast. "Oh no... they're here. They really found us."
Hojo stepped forward menacingly to their direction. He smiled the way a snake would. "Okay guards! Capture them!"
"NO! I won't let you take Ifalna away!" Professor Gast yelled, but the Shinra Guards just pressed their trigger and shot him, causing Aeris to cry at the horrifying gunshot, and also causing Ifalna to faint.
Hojo chuckled as he saw the Gainsborough family falling apart. "Take Ifalna." He ordered at the guards firmly. He turned to walk away to the door, and then he thought of something and looked back at the guards. "Oh yeah, don't forget the baby too."
Hojo looked around the room once more and noticed the camera. Scowling, he yelled, "Oh, what a nice little camera. Too bad it's gonna be destroyed. Guards, we won't be needing this junk."
Then without hesitating, the two Shinra guards shot the camera without any second thoughts.