"Life After Death" by arudika

A Final Fantasy VII Fanfiction

Disclaimer

Characters and other names from Final Fantasy VII all belong to Squaresoft / Square-Enix and whoever else whom owns them. I'm merely borrowing them for this story. No infringement intended!

Author's notes

This was written back in 2001 till 2004 and was abandoned for some reason. It was posted under a different pen name then, and by the time I wanted to continue, I couldn't login again. I've created a new account and hopefully I'll be able to actually finish this story for real. This is a Zack/Aerith fiction, so to all fans out there, I hope you will like it. Also, this was written way before Advent Children or Crisis Core existed, so the storyline is pretty much based on the original Final Fantasy VII game and/or AU. To those who have posted their feedback before this, I hope you're still around to re-read this story – and thanks for all the wonderful comments that you have given!

Chapter 1: The Promised Land

Aerith woke up to the feel of soft fingers brushing her cheek. After helping out the Lifestream stop Meteor from destroying the Planet, she just collapsed out of exhaustion and fell into a deep slumber. She wondered how long she's been asleep. With her eyes still closed, she relished in the soothing feeling that came from the fingers that were now tracing her jaw line. Feeling content, Aerith sighed and opened her eyes slowly. Emerald green eyes met with another pair of green orbs.

"Hey there, sleepy head," the woman whispered and smiled at her.

"Hi, Mother." Aerith smiled back and slowly got up to a sitting position. Blinking her eyes a few times, she then stretched her arms above her head and yawned. She lolled her head around to relieve the aching muscles around her neck and shoulders. "Is this how Sleeping Beauty felt when she woke up?" Ifalna chuckled softly at her daughter's joke.

"Here, let me help you." She moved behind Aerith and started massaging her shoulders, loosening the tight bundle of knots there. Aerith moaned and dropped her head forward, enjoying the feel of her mother's hands working their magic. The older woman smiled and continued her ministrations. "You did a great job, Aerith. The Planet is safe and so are your friends. I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks, Mother. That means a lot to me, especially coming from you." She turned around and hugged her mother. Ifalna returned the affectionate embrace with equal tenderness and stroked her daughter's back. "I've missed you, Mother. Even though Elmyra took care of me, there wasn't a day I never thought of you." She released herself from the embrace and looked at her mother. Ifalna looked like an older version of Aerith, with her hair tied back in a simple ponytail and her eyes a shade darker than hers. The clothes she was wearing were the ones she last wore before her death at Midgar Train Station. A slight frown grazed Aerith's face at the memory, but it quickly faded away when she looked at her mother again. "There are so many things I want to ask you, Mother. It's been ages since I last saw you and..." her voice trailed off when she noticed her surroundings for the first time.

They were in a field full of beautiful flowers, with butterflies fluttering about and a gentle breeze swaying and caressing her hair and skin. In the distance was a small river, its flowing water clear as crystal. Various kinds of fish swam happily in it, enjoying the clean water. The sight was breathtaking and Aerith cooed in amazement. She whispered to her mother, as though afraid the beautiful scene would disappear if she revealed her voice. "Mother, what is this place? It's wonderful!" She bent down and picked a few flowers and brought them to her face, smelling the sweet fragrance and feeling their soft petals.

"This is the Promised Land, Aerith. Well, a part of it. This beautiful garden is just outside the main gates of our home – our eternal home. You will get to meet your father there too." Aerith looked up at the mention of her father. She had always wanted to meet her father and get to know him. "I know for sure that he can't wait to meet his beloved daughter." Ifalna continued, as though she could read her daughter's thoughts. She held out one hand and briefly glanced to her left, the direction that would lead them to the main gates of the Promised Land, before looking down at her daughter again. "Come, dear. Are you ready? You can bring the flowers too, if you want." Aerith slowly got up and took the offered hand in hers. She followed her mother's lead, feeling nervous and excited at the same time. Ifalna could sense her daughter's anxiousness, so she stopped and turned to her. "I know you're nervous, honey. Don't worry, things are going to be just fine." She squeezed Aerith's hand for support. Then she lifted one hand and cupped her daughter's face. "You've grown so beautiful, Aerith. I can't believe I've missed all those years, to watch you grow. How I wish I can thank Elmyra personally for being such a wonderful mother to you." As an afterthought, she continued playfully, "And I'm sure there were many men who were left with broken hearts."

Aerith giggled and swatted Ifalna's arm lightly. "Mother, stop it! You're making me blush." Then she lowered her head and murmured, "I don't know about those men though. Maybe it's because I never thought of having a romantic relationship after...never mind." Ifalna gave her a questioning look. "It's in the past, Mother. And my heart was the one that broke, I guess." She gave a sad smile and looked away.

Ifalna put her arm around her daughter's shoulders and squeezed them lightly. "Time will heal your wound, Aerith. You have a new life ahead of you now. Your father and I can't wait to rejoice and start that new life with you, so that we can be a family again. And you will get to meet other people and make new friends here. Which reminds me...there's a young man here whose been asking about you after that ordeal with Meteor."

Aerith gave a puzzled look. "Someone here knows me? I wonder who it could be?" she thought. "Really? Did he say what his name was?" Ifalna thought for a moment, and then shook her head. Aerith was now curious.

"I'm sorry, dear. Maybe we'll meet him after we've got you settled in." She smiled encouragingly and held out her hand once more. "Shall we?"

Aerith nodded and took her mother's hand again. Just a few meters ahead of her she could see the high majestic gates of the Promised Land. Thoughts about the stranger her mother mentioned left her mind immediately when she finally saw the so-called paradise. "Now I know that I have died and gone to heaven." She smiled at the thought and proceeded further. The Promised Land looked just like the meadow she was in earlier, but with beautiful white buildings similar in architecture with the ones in the Forgotten City. In the center of it all is a huge courtyard with a tower in the middle of a lake.

"That's the Tower of Wisdom. It has a library and other sources of knowledge. There's also a special section where you can observe happenings on the Planet." Ifalna said as she nodded in the direction of the tower. Aerith stared at the tower in awe. "Nanaki would love this place!" she thought. Even she couldn't wait to go inside herself.

Indeed, her life was just beginning all over again and no man named Sephiroth was going to destroy that. At the thought of that name, Aerith shuddered and shook her head to clear it out. Then she thought about her friends back in the realm of the living. "I wonder how Cloud and the rest are doing. I miss them." Images of her comrades flashed through her mind and she smiled wistfully. "Please be well, my friends. Don't forget about me."

To be continued…