OF A PURE HEART, A FALLEN KNIGHT AND THE ONE – WINGED ANGELS

------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: ---------------------------------------------

To the Reader and the Lawyers:

Final Fantasy VII, and all the characters, including Aeris and Sephiroth, are property of Square Enix Co, formerly Squaresoft LLC. Tell me if my disclaimer ain't good enough.

To other Fanfic Writers (This is more important!) Plagiarism Note:

There are a lot of Aeriseph fanfics around here. I've tried my best to stay as original as possible, but it's a bit hard to write this type of story without treading on someone's toes by accident along the line. Please, if you feel that I may have 'borrowed' some of your concepts or ideas by mistake, notify me immediately. Email a "cease and desist" message to me, point out where I have gone wrong, and I will act immediately to remove or modify the offending section(s). Thank you very, very much for your understanding and tolerance.

OK, enough of this @#*%&^ already, on with the story!

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KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU

It was done.

Holy was moving at last. A stream of pure white magic flew towards Midgar, where the Meteor was falling. The power of the Planet turned into a web of energy, cushioning the impact of the world killer, keeping it from touching the surface of the earth.

But that was not enough. Her friends had managed to defeat Sephiroth, whose iron will had kept Holy at bay, but it was already too late to arrest the fall of the giant comet, and all would be lost soon.

But she knew that it wouldn't be over, not just yet. There was still something she could do, even though she was no longer with them. She had to protect her friends. She bowed her head, closed her eyes and prayed, desperately asking the Planet for one final favour.

Her prayers were answered instantaneously as the Lifestream itself erupted from every place on the world, the spirit energy that was the essence of life gathering, bit by bit, strand by strand towards Midgar. Some of the energy beams went towards strengthening the barrier, keeping the Meteor from doing any more damage to the already ravaged Planet, while even more engulfed the oversized comet, penetrating into its very core, disintegrating it bit by bit. Still more of the Lifestream came until the very life of the Planet was concentrated in that one place in the sky. The Meteor was held in check, and the skin of the juggernaut began to bulge uncontrollably as it absorbed more and more of the green energy. And with one blinding burst of light, Meteor was gone in a titanic explosion that shook the world.

At last she raised her head and smiled. They were safe now. And even as the last vestigial fragments of rock showered the surface of the world, she saw a brilliant cone of light appear before her. She was being asked to return to the Planet, and she knew she had to say goodbye.

She sighed, and turned towards each of her friends in turn, fixing their wonderful features in her mind one last time before she had to leave. She had wanted to be with them, taking part in more adventures, going on more dates and plays, exploring the world… but she had to put her own wants before the needs of the Planet. But she had not regretted it for a moment, as the sight of her companions being safe and sound made her contented enough.

She looked at the young man with spiky blond hair last and longest. She had adored the former mercenary, admiring his courage and his inner strength, falling in love with him at first sight. Had she been in another world, had she been living in more peaceful times, she might have married him, and they would have had a wonderful life together. But his destiny lay on a different path from hers, and they had no choice but to go their separate ways. He would be fine, as Tifa would be at his side forever, and they loved each other, even though they wouldn't admit it yet. She sighed, biting back tears. Of all of them, she would miss Cloud Strife the most.

The light brightened, and the Planet called to her again, patiently asking her prodigal daughter to return. She could have gone to the Promised Land the moment she died, but she had put it off, wanting to watch her friends from the Lifestream, hoping to be with them in spirit even though she could not meet them, hoping to be of aid to them one day. Her efforts had paid off, now that the Meteor was gone. However, she could not refuse the Planet's summons to enter paradise forever. But as she turned her gaze from the saviors of the world to the light, she could not help but feel sad for them, and guilty that she would enjoy eternal life, but not them. While the Cetra passed into the Promised Land at the end of their lives, the humans were doomed to be reincarnated over and over again, to feel more suffering and pain as part of the endless cycle of life and death. But she could do nothing about it, except treasure their memories forever in her heart.

I I'll miss you, Cloud, my bodyguard. I'm sorry I couldn't come back… I

The Planet called one last time, and this time Aeris did not resist, and she soared upwards into the afterlife.

A/N: Oh, poor, poor Aeris… (sniff)

Note that because of the way she is portrayed in the ending FMV (she appears in the Lifestream), some people may say that the Lifestream is the Promised Land after all.

In the game, it is mentioned that there was something keeping Aeris from returning to the Planet. Since she had deep links to Avalanche, and Cloud particularly, I thought that she'd probably try to stick around and help out a little.

Sigh… I wish the ending of FF7 was more clear – cut; it wouldn't hurt to find out what exactly happens to our dearest flower girl after all=)

Oh, and BTW, I'm an ABBA fan, and you'll see similarly titled – chapters soon…