Chapter I
Yuffie Kisagari stared at Aeris Gainsborough, who was currently kneeling on some kind of alter in some city, that Yuffie found awfully creepy. She glanced at Cloud Strife and hoped that since they had found Aeris that they would be leaving soon. Cloud ran up to the stone pillars that led to Aeris' alter and Tifa Lockheart began to follow before he waved her off. Cloud quickly reached the spot where Aeris was and he walked up toward her. He unexpectedly stiffened his entire body. Yuffie had a sudden feeling that something was about to go wrong...very wrong.
=========
Tifa couldn't even begin to understand why Aeris had left the group to pray in this very old city. Why couldn't every one have gone with her? Of course, there were some things about the young Cetra that no one understood. For example, her ability to "speak with the Planet", as she called it. Tifa didn't understand, but she trusted Aeris completely, second only to Cloud. Cloud, the man she loved, her childhood friend and her team mate. It was because of all of those things, plus the fact that she was not big on expressing her feelings, that she could never tell him how she felt. Tifa watched as Cloud suddenly stiffened his entire body. She glanced quickly at Yuffie to see if she knew what was going on but all she saw on her face was confusion. Tifa looked back at the man she loved and watched the scene unfold.
=========
Cloud blinked and shook his head. Before he knew what was happening he drew his sword. He walked up to Aeris and shook his head again. Then, slowly, motion by motion, he readied his sword to swing it down on Aeris' head. He briefly noted that Aeris had not yet opened her eyes. He swung his sword. "CLOUD!!" Tifa screamed. He stepped back and shook his head yet again.
"Ugh, what are you making me do?" he whispered to himself somehow knowing that the man he had spoken to had heard him.
=========
Sephiroth chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. Stupid Cetra, he thought. My son, his mothers voice whispered to him, get rid of her. Do it for your mother! She is the only threat to our plan. Sephiroth didn't quite understand how this frail creature could be a threat to the Great Sephiroth and Jenova, his mother, but he believed anything his mother told him. She was, after all, the only person in the world who had ever told him the truth. He smiled, a cruel smile, and got in position to drop from above onto the silly, impudent Cetra.
=========
Aeris knew Cloud was standing in front of her but she also knew that Sephiroth was in the Cetra city. She had to finish her prayer to Holy and the Planet. She focused all of her energy on concluding her prayer. With a small smile, she opened her eyes. I can sense Sephiroth...he's above me? I guess this is it then. Aeris knew the sadness and conflicted emotions she felt were perceptible on her face, judging by the serious expression on Cloud's face. This isn't fair!
========
Yuffie stood staring at Aeris' face and she saw a sudden change in her facial expression. Yuffie glanced over Aeris' head and saw the sword of Sephiroth, the Masamune. She knew what that meant. Oh no...
=========
Cloud tore his eyes from Aeris' and saw Sephiroth plunging from above. I have to protect her, he thought, but for some reason he couldn't move. Come on, Cloud! He said to himself. He felt like he was in a fog, watching as Sephiroth's sword came closer and closer to Aeris' body. I'm sorry, Aeris.
=========
Tifa looked at Aeris, waiting for her to get up so that they could leave. Suddenly, Aeris' serene smile fell off of her face. Tifa registered this suddenly alert. She looked over at Yuffie and saw the young girl looking above Aeris' head. Tifa followed suit and saw Sephiroth dropping down from somewhere above. She knew she had to do something but she didn't know what. So she did the first thing that came to mind. "AERIS!! Move!" she screamed.
=========
"AERIS!! Move!" Tifa screamed at her. Aeris wasn't so sure she was ready to die anymore. She just couldn't bring herself to do it. I'm sorry, she mentally whispered to the Planet. Aeris couldn't get her body to budge so she did what came natural to her.
"Great Gospel," she whispered so quietly she could barely hear herself. Suddenly, Sephiroth's long sword was there, completely through her. She looked down, surprised, not only by having a giant sword run her through but also because she didn't feel it at all. She smiled.
=========
Sephiroth saw his sword slide through the girl, but he didn't have the familiar feeling of it slicing through flesh. He stared at her, surprised. She didn't fall forward or act as if in pain. He smirked and thought to his mother, I guess she really does have some power. A sudden thought occurred to him. If she is a Cetra, why are we eliminating her? Shouldn't she be on our side, fighting with us? He asked his mother. He could sense Jenova hesitate. She is a traitor! She would ruin everything! She cannot be with us! Jenova yelled at him, apparently angry even though Sephiroth had not meant to anger her. But she is a Cetra, like us! She should be at our side! He continued to argue. How dare you disobey your mother! Jenova screamed at him. A sharp pain raced through his head and stopped right at both of his temples. He gasped at the pain and dropped the hilt of his sword. He fell to his knees and grabbed his head.
=========
Cloud knew this would be the perfect time to attack Sephiroth but he raced to Aeris' side to check on her and to see how she had survived. He sank down next to her. "Are you okay?" he asked her. She looked up at him and nodded then smiled.
"I'm fine but we have to hurry and get this sword out of me." He stood up and reached for the hilt but something prevented him from grabbing it.
"I can't touch it!" he said, clearly panicked.
"It's okay, Cloud." Aeris calmly replied. He watched in complete shock as she grabbed the blade of the sword and pushed it out of her back, the way it came. Yuffie and Tifa had reached the alter at that time and they joined Cloud in his utter shock. Aeris stood up and, now holding the hilt of the Masamune, with the long blade dragging on the ground, walked the few steps to reach her best friend Tifa. She held out the sword to Tifa. "Don't let him get this 'kay?" she asked her friend. Tifa looked startled, glanced quickly at Cloud, and then looked back at Aeris.
O-okay...." Tifa said, clearly worried as she took the sword. He noticed her arms drop some from the weight of the massive weapon. Cloud wondered for a moment why he couldn't hold it but Tifa and Aeris could, but he turned his attention back to Aeris. Aeris smiled reassuringly at them, then turned to Sephiroth and began to walk toward him. Cloud panicked.
"Aeris, what are you doing?!" he asked her.
Calm down. I have to do this." she replied. She walked over to Sephiroth and before anyone could stop her she knelt down next to him.
=========
Aeris was kneeling by Sephiroth, trying to decide what would be the best course of action. To tell the truth, she was terrified, but she assumed that this was the reason her Limit worked. The Planet could have stopped it from being effective but it hadn't. And now Sephiroth was seemingly in pain. Well, I have to hurry before he loses complete control of himself, Aeris thought. "Sephiroth?" she whispered. He didn't respond. "Sephiroth, can you hear me?" she asked, using a quiet, gentle voice.
"Aeris, lets just kill him and get over with," Cloud suggested. Aeris ignored him. She touched his shoulder and said his name again. Before she could even think, Sephiroth was holding her by her throat above the ground. Aeris struggled to breathe. She struggled to suck in air, but there was none. Spots began to dance in front of her eyes, when suddenly she was laying on the ground, gasping for breath. She looked up and saw that Cloud had knocked Sephiroth down onto the ground. Yuffie and Tifa had come up beside her and Tifa asked, "Are you okay?" Aeris didn't reply at first, concentrating on trying to breathe. Then she saw that Cloud had his sword pressed against Sephiroth's throat.
"Tifa! Yuffie! Stop him! Don't let Cloud kill him!" They both just gave her funny looks. Aeris could understand why but she didn't have time to explain. "Cloud! Stop it!" Aeris screamed. He didn't listen. I have to stop him!
=========
Sephiroth could have easily tossed Cloud off of him but he thought maybe Cloud could use a little glory. Cloud's blue eyes never stopped glaring right into his. Sephiroth smirked. Just as he was about to break free of Cloud's grip, someone ran up and pulled Cloud away from Sephiroth. He stared at the girl who had done it. It was the Cetra, the one he had tried to kill twice. For a moment he was confused. Why was she helping him? His question was quickly answered. "What do you think you are doing?!" Cloud yelled at Aeris.
"Don't kill him Cloud. Please," Aeris responded. Sephiroth was about to say something along the lines of how he would like to see him try, but the girl cut in before he could. "I think the Planet wants me to save him." she said. Cloud, Tifa, Yuffie and Sephiroth all gave her disbelieving looks. Hmm...maybe she could be of some use to us, Jenova whispered to him. Sephiroth was surprised but not about to argue with her after what had happened last time. He nodded and was about to walk to Aeris but his mother hissed, Not here! The puppet will try to stop you and he may die. We don't want that to happen so close to The Reunion do we? So what was he supposed to do? Let me have a little fun and while the others are distracted take the girl, Jenova suggested. He smirked and threw the arm of Jenova at Cloud. It hit him right on the stomach. Suddenly a form of Jenova appeared and everyone stared at it. He heard the youngest girl, the one with the short dark hair whisper "Another one?" Sephiroth waited for an opportunity to get the girl with no interruptions.
=========
Cloud knew Sephiroth was planning something but he was too distracted with trying to kill the Jenova to care. He swung his sword and hit Jenova on a place on what he assumed were legs. He glanced at his comrades to see how they were doing. Tifa was also attacking the legs and appeared to be still holding strong. Yuffie was just getting up after being attacked with some kind of blue flame. Aeris was standing away casting curing spells on the group whenever they were needed. Cloud's attention was diverted when Jenova let loose a powerful attack. Blue bubbles surrounded everyone except for Sephiroth and, oddly enough, Aeris. Cloud felt weak and he looked up to Aeris to see if she had started casting cure spells just in time to see Sephiroth wrap an arm around Aeris' waist. Cloud struggled to get up, unsure on exactly what was going on. He figured it out, however, when Aeris started to scream and Sephiroth covered up her mouth with his other hand. Sephiroth looked at Cloud and saw him watching and he smiled. Sephiroth then leapt into the air and went higher and higher until he was gone. Cloud attempted to stand but his legs wouldn't cooperate. He looked over at Tifa, and noticed that she wasn't awake before he faded in unconsciousness.
=========
Barret Wallace was angry. He, Cid Highwind, Red XIII, Cait Sith, and the newest addition to the team, Vincent Valentine stood just outside of a giant shell house. They had been waiting for almost an hour. Barret wanted to hurry up and get a move on so they could defeat Shin-ra. That is, after all, the reason most of them had joined the team. Barret knew that was his reason. After Shin-ra had destroyed his hometown, killing his wife, they had shot his best friend Dyne, and rendered his right hand useless. He had gotten rid of his artificial arm and had a gun grafted in instead. "I wonder what is taking them so long." Red XIII (or Nanaki as the people of Cosmo Canyon called him) mused. Red was a large cat-like creature that was the last of his race and could talk.
"I bet they're fine!" Cait Sith replied obviously thinking that it was his responsibility ability to keep spirits high. Cait was a little black cat that rode around on top of a giant stuffed moogle that he claims to have brought to life by "magic".
"Yeah, there's probably no reason to worry...but I wish I knew what is taking them so friggin' long!" Cid said in his gruff voice. Cid was sorta the unofficial leader of Rocket Town. He had a bad smoking problem. He used to be a pilot for Shin-ra and was gonna be the first man in space! He had to stop the space mission when a mechanic named Shera was fixin' something and would have died. He saved her life but Shin-ra cut the space programs budget and Cid quit. Vincent, as usual didn't offer his opinion. Vincent was a stoic guy that was really kinda creepy. He had a metal claw for a hand and wore a cape and heavy boots even in the hottest temperatures. Of course that probably had something to with the fact that he had been the butt of some pretty nasty experiments courtesy of Shin-ra's mad scientist, Professor Hojo. He also had some other stuff done to him, for example he can transform into these really creepy monsters when he gets really mad, and he is essentially immortal. Also he was involved with a woman named Lucrecia, who is, according to Vincent anyway, Sephiroth's mother. Barret looked around at AVALANCHE, which was the team's name and said,"I think we should go in there." Cid immediately agreed. Red pondered this for a moment and then nodded his fur-covered head.
"I agree. Although I believe nothing unfortunate has occurred it will do no harm anyone to verify." The three of them looked at Cait who said, "Okey-Dokey! Let's go!" They all then looked at Vincent. He nodded, making his jet black hair shake, but all he said was, "I agree." Barret grinned and said "Let's go!"
=========
Vincent walked silently behind all of the other AVALANCHE members. He hoped that Sephiroth would not be inside of the house. He did not want any harm to come to him. He was, after all, the son of the woman he had loved. Of course, she had died long ago. And it was entirely fault. He couldn't save her, the one he loved, from Hojo's evil. Hojo. Just the name made Vincent want to hurt someone. Hojo had taken everything from him. He had stolen the love of his life, her son, Vincent's own life and his job as a Turk, Shin-ra's assassins. Vincent had to clench his fist to keep his wrath concealed. His thoughts turned to Lucrecia and his anger almost immediately turned into sadness and guilt. Luckily he was distracted from his thoughts the moment they stepped off of the long stairway that led to the underground capital. They saw Cloud, Tifa, and Yuffie lying motionless on top of a stone alter. "Tifa!" Barret yelled because Tifa was his closest friend. Red and the others went to check on Cloud and Yuffie, but it was Vincent who noticed something else.
"Where is Aeris?" He questioned in his quiet voice. Everyone, who was awake, looked shocked as if they hadn't thought about it. Red threw a phoenix down on Cloud and Cloud sat up, weak but alive. Red quickly cast cure and Cloud was on his feet in an instant looking around wildly. He obviously didn't see what he was looking for because he kicked his foot on the ground, looking very angry. Every one else looked at Yuffie and Tifa for an explanation.
"Sephiroth was here." Tifa started and the members who did not know looked shocked with the exception of Vincent who always hid his emotions. She continued, "Aeris was here, on this alter, praying or something when he dropped down from the sky and stabbed her through the stomach with his sword." Most everyone gasped with the exceptions of Cid, who swore, and Vincent, who once again showed no emotion.
"He tried to kill Aeris?!" Barret said, clearly upset.
"Twice." was Yuffie's input adding to the group's confusion. Tifa gave Yuffie a look before continuing,
"Somehow Aeris survived. She must have done some sort of spell that made her invincible or something. Anyways, Sephiroth started holding his head and Aeris went to help him but he grabbed her by the neck and tried to choke her! Cloud" she paused to throw an affectionate glance at the person of whom she was speaking, that he obviously did not see, before continuing "saved her and Sephiroth threw a Jenova at us and we started fighting it when she did a powerful attack and knocked us out. I'm not sure where Aeris is though" Cloud looked up.
"I do." he said in a low voice. "Sephiroth. He took her. Kidnapped her or something. And I couldn't protect her." To everyone's surprise it was Vincent who comforted him, "It's not your fault, Cloud. It is Sephiroth who is at fault, not you." Everyone looked at him funny. Then Yuffie spoke up,
"The only thing we can do now is try and find her, right?" she looked the group over. Cloud nodded and began to walk. Cid grinned and said,
"I think that's the most intelligent thing I've ever heard you say, brat!" The sixteen-year-old ninja glared at him and replied
"Ooo! Intelligent! That's a big word! I don't think your brain can take it." They continued to bicker back and forth as AVALANCHE left the Ancient City.
=========
Tifa looked ahead of her at the group. Everyone had someone to talk to except for herself. She, normally, would talk to Cloud or Aeris but with Aeris gone, Cloud acted like he didn't want company. Cid and Yuffie were still fighting about who knows what with Cait Sith playing referee, Red and Barret were involved in a quiet discussion and Tifa could see Cloud's huge, spiky, blonde hair over Barret's head. Tifa decided she would attempt conversation with Vincent. She fell back until she reached his side. "Hey." she said. He just nodded. She hesitated and then said "Are you doing okay?" she asked him. He nodded again. She stifled the urge to groan. This was like talking to a wall! She tried one more time "So, how come you piped up back there to reassure Cloud?" she said. Tifa finally got a response.
"I do not believe it was Cloud's fault." he said quietly. Tifa nodded.
"I agree. He couldn't stop Sephiroth. None of us could." Tifa suddenly felt a sense of familiarity with this. She quickly figured out what it was. Here Vincent was saying it wasn't Cloud's fault when he was taking the blame for something that wasn't his fault that happened almost thirty years ago. "So, you think that it wasn't Cloud's fault and he should stop blaming himself, huh?" Tifa questioned.
"Yes" Vincent replied. "He shouldn't blame himself for something he could not control." Tifa grinned.
"So, it's kinda like your story with Hojo and Lucrecia, then." Tifa, seeing that Yuffie and Cid had stopped fighting ran to catch up with them to start a conversation and to leave Vincent alone with his thoughts.
=========
The red cat-like creature lifted his head and sniffed the wind. So far they had made it with out incident, no monsters had assailed them, but Red XIII did not let his guard down. He walked just behind Cloud, the leader of their group, because he had the best senses and would know whenever anything was coming long before anyone else. Red was one of the few members who appreciated the silence, even enjoyed it. But, he found himself missing the flower girl from the slums of Midgar. Aeris used to pat his nose and he pretended that he did not like it but really he found it quite pleasant. He would miss her. Stop it, he commanded himself, she is not gone forever. We shall find her. He noticed that the temperature had dropped considerably and that there were a few scattered patches of snow. He looked back to check on the women because they were probably awfully cold by now. Tifa only had on a short black skirt and a short tank top. Yuffie wore shorts and a short dark green tank top, but she would probably be warmer than Tifa for she had an arm guard and a leg brace. They were both shivering. For a moment he wished he had a jacket to offer them but then he saw Vincent step up and offer Tifa his red cape and Cid gave Yuffie his pilot jacket. He then proceeded to tell her to be careful with it and offered up numerous threats if she should mess it up. Red turned his attention back to Tifa. She was smiling gratefully at Vincent. Vincent nodded and returned to his place at the end of the line. Tifa frowned slightly, probably from the lack of response from Vincent, before she shrugged and continued her conversation with Yuffie. Red turned back around. He had to be ready for anything.
=========
Aeris struggled against Sephiroth's vise-like grip. She wanted to scream but she was afraid of what he would do to her. She was keeping an eye on their surroundings so that, in case she got a chance to escape, she could find her way back. There was snow completely covering the ground and Aeris was freezing. She wanted to cross her arms to block out some of the bitter cold but since Sephiroth was holding one of her arms it wouldn't work. "Hurry up, Cetra!" he snarled at her. Aeris felt a flash of anger at being bossed around and at being called 'Cetra' when she had a name.
"My name is Aeris!" she said indignantly. She saw Sephiroth smirk but he didn't say anything. "Excuse me? You want to try it? Come on. I know you can do it." Aeris wasn't sure why she kept on talking but it just poured out. Sephiroth stopped so suddenly that she ran into the back of him. "Hey!" she cried.
"Watch it, girl" he snapped, giving her a look that made the current temperature feel like Costa Del Sol.
"Sorry," she said. He looked satisfied and she knew he was just showing her who was in charge. "Your brake lights were out." She muttered almost silently and sarcastically. Aeris sighed loudly. She was cold, hungry, and lonely, she had a headache, and she wanted to go home. Aeris wasn't one to complain but this was too much. "Umm...Sephiroth? Do you, uh, have anything to, like, eat?" she winced at the quiver in her voice. Sephiroth continued to walk. She opened her mouth to try again but he spoke before she could.
"We will stop in thirty minutes." he paused for a moment before continuing, the next part obviously sarcastic "Think you can last that long, Cetra?" Aeris frowned and clenched her fist wishing she could hit him. Then she thought of what he would do to her if she did. Suddenly that urge was gone. Without warning her vision blurred. That usually meant that something was wrong with the Planet. She stumbled into Sephiroth's back. He turned and was about to yell at her when he saw her face. Aeris thought her head would explode. The Planet was screaming so loud. She brought her free hand to her head. Make it stop, she thought weakly. She whispered to Sephiroth
"Help me" before she collapsed into the cold snow.
===========================
How'd you like it? I've had this written for awhile but it never occured to me to post it here. The chappie is more excitin (I think) because ....I don't know why. Feel free to review! Flames will be mocked mercilessly, so don't bother! The second chappie will be up soon (I hope) so if you liked it, then you won't have to wait long. Oh yeah! I forgot about the disclaimer! 'clears throat' Square-Enix owns Final Fantasy, I do not. However, if they are interested in selling it to me for a very low price...like say a pen...then I will be glad to buy it from them! See you next time!
=DotC=