The Apple and the Core Part 2: Ifalna's Fields
Chapter 1: Dreams of the Past
The rain poured mercilessly down from heavens as Ifalna stumbled over the roots and fallen branches in the deep forest. The tall trees did little to shield her as she continued to trudge on, clearly aware of the sound of menacing dogs barking behind her. She couldn't run, or risk tripping with the bundled baby in her arms, and the dogs seemed like they were getting ever closer. She shuddered as she pulled Aeris closer to her chest. The babe was wrapped in the only covering she had, and even that was pitifully inadequate. Rivers of water ran down her face and mixed with the tears she had burning in her eyes. She hadn't had anything to eat in days, and each step felt like it would be her last. She looked down at her baby. She would continue for her, she reasoned. Aeris was the only reason she would carry on this retched existence of being the last of her kind, losing her lover, being thrown in a lab, and then taunted by a taste of freedom. The wind whipped between the branches, causing her to shudder violently. She had no magic left. She had used it all in her escape. There was nothing left of her. Nothing but a cold, shivering shell.
Her foot suddenly wrenched around a gnarly root, causing her to lose her balance, she fell painfully on her side and had to bite her forearm to keep from crying out. She laid there for several long moments, silently sobbing as thunder echoed overhead. She tried to pull herself up, but found herself unable to put much weight on the foot that she wrenched. She looked up and found an enclave within an old dying tree. She huddled herself within its confines amongst the beetles and the worms, and watched with forlorn eyes as the rain continued to puddle on the forest floor. She rested her head on her knees, effectively shielding Aeris from the rest of the elements, but then felt the heat radiating off her baby's face. Her eyes widened as she peeled back the soaked linens to find Aeris' cheeks flush and feverish. More tears began to form as she realized she couldn't wait. She had to press on.
She grabbed a sturdy stick and balanced her weight upon it, before gathering Aeris once more. Lost and alone, she trudged through the forest, not knowing whether or not she was heading in the right direction. She just knew that she was heading toward Banora, and prayed to the gods above that Genesis' parents would give her respite.
~oOo~
The rain poured ominously outside of the Rhapsodos' mansion, but within, three individuals sat very cozily around a dinette table, drinking tea and eyeing the horrible weather outside the large bay windows.
"The weather is absolutely horrible out there..." Gillian Hewley said as she passed the tea pot to Sandra Rhapsodos.
"Don't let Jacob hear you say that…" Sandra muttered in a cautious tone, but flashed a playful smirk as she took the pot from Gillian. "Jacob's upset that we've missed a week of apple harvesting already this year…" The only response either woman got was a grumble from Jacob Rhapsodos as he stared at the window, willing it to stop raining with his mind. "Come on, Jacob…" Sandra nudged him softly. "Gillian came all this way in the rain, and all you can do is stare out the window like moping child."
"Sorry…" Jacob muttered as he turned back around. Sandra closed the curtains for good measure, drawing another sigh from the frustrated farmer.
"I hope the rain isn't this bad in Midgar…" Sandra muttered as she took a sip of her tea and sat down. "The boys are supposed to ship off to Wutai today…"
Jacob eyed Gillian as the tea cut between her hands began to quiver. He sat up straighter in his chair and met her eyes. "You can't worry about them all the time, Gillian." He said. "We're all worried, but we can't let it consume our lives. Their lives are going on and so are our's."
Sandra reached across the table and laid a gentle hand on her arm. "It's affecting your health…your life…You've lost a lot of weight." She looked at her best friend worriedly. "If you keep this up, Angeal won't have a mother to come back to."
Gillian nodded, but the reassurance didn't quite reach her eyes. "That's easy…for you to say." Gillian looked down into her tea, causing Jacob to raise an eyebrow. "If something happened to Genesis, the two of you would still have each other. I don't have anyone else…" She whispered.
Sandra's eyes widened as she got up and walked around the table. She wrapped her arms around Gillian's slender shoulders and rested her head on the top of her's. "You have us, honey…"
"You know that we would never let anything happen to you, Gillian." Jacob muttered impatiently, as if this were obvious. Sandra rolled her eyes at her husband. Itching to the change the change the subject from this awful emotional quagmire that the three of them found themselves in, Jacob asked. "Have you heard from him lately?"
A smile finally formed on Gillian's lips. "I heard from him yesterday. "She beamed. "He said he was excited about going to war, and that he and Genesis had made several new friends while they were in Midgar."
"Oh really?" Jacob muttered. "Genesis hardly ever writes…"
"I'm sure he's just bus…" But Gillian was cut off as a sudden scream ripped through the Rhapsodos mansion, causing both women to jump in fear. Jacob Rhapsodos bolted out of the door. Both woman followed, tentatively, huddling close to each other far behind. Jacob followed the scream to the front door where he found a maid in absolute shock.
"Mary Anne, what is…" Jacob cut himself short as he found a collapsed body in the doorframe. The baby in her arms gave a horrifying, high-pitched scream as the two women fought to get near the unconscious form.
Jacob cautiously kneeled down the woman as Sandra cupped a hand over her mouth. "Is she…?" Sandra whispered, terrified.
Jacob reached down and took her pulse. "She's alive." He looked up at the three women that were crowded by the door. "Barely." Gillian pushed through the crowd and scooped up the wailing child as Jacob began to bark orders. "Mary Anne, ready the guest room immeadiately!" Mary Anne disappeared up the stair as Jacob turned to his wife. "Get this woman some dry clothes!" He turned to Gillian. "You know what to do with the baby." Gillian nodded as she disappeared into the house with the baby. Jacob, then, managed to get his arms under the woman's body and lifted her into the air with a grunt. "Someone get her some soup! She's light as a feather!"
Servants were running back and forth across the house as they rushed to get the aid that Ifalna and her baby disparately needed. Gillian found an old crib and wheeled it into the guest room where Mary Anne was turning back the sheets. She was changing baby Aeris as Jacob entered the room, carrying Ifalna. Sandra was two steps behind him with a set of flannel pajamas. Jacob closed the door as he left the room in a hurry, leaving the two women to change Ifalna.
"We've got to call Dr. Waters." Gillian mumbled.
"The roads have been washed out, Ms. Gillian." Mary Anne shook her head. "There's no way he could make it there or back…"
Gillian swore under her breath.
Mary Anne nodded as she disappeared from the room, leaving Gillian and Sandra alone in the room. "Do you think you can handle this?" Sandra looked at her worriedly.
Gillian knotted her brow. She had been a lot of things in her life, but for once in that expanse, she was going to use her knowledge as a Shin-Ra scientist for good. She nodded to Sandra. "We can do this. We've just got to stay on top of it."
"We've got to get both of their fevers down…" Gillian muttered as she turned to Mary Anne, who had since retired to the corner to await further instructions. "Mary Anne, get me two water basins, two rags, and some aspirin." Gillian turned to her. "Quickly please."
Mary Anne disappeared out of the room as Sandra reached over to cover Ifalna's shivering form with a blanket. Mary Anne quickly reappeared with the things that Gillian had asked for on a cart.
Gillian looked at Sandra. "I'll take care of the baby. You take care of her." When Sandra gave Gillian a fearful look, Gillian sighed, but then smiled tiredly, realizing that Sandra had never cared for anyone in this condition before. "We've just got to give her some aspirin and keep mopping down her forehead." Sandra nodded as she pulled up a chair beside the bed and immediately dipped the rag the cold water that had chunks of ice floating within. "I'm more concerned about the baby…" She whispered softly as she bounced Aeris, to try to calm the fussy, feverish child. She sat down in a rocking chair near the bed, and began to rock Aeris, while mopping the child's forehead.
"I hope they'll be okay…" Sandra muttered to herself.
"I certainly hope so…" Gillian whispered back.
~oOo~
It was close to two in the morning, when Gillian told Sandra to go to bed. Mary Anne had since taken over, and neither woman had said much since as the minutes crept into hours. Neither the baby's fever or her mothers had risen, but nor had it fallen. Gillian kept rocking in the creaking wooden rocking chair to keep herself awake. She hated times like these as the silence left her to the discomfort of her own thoughts and worry. Angeal would be traveling to Wutai, and although she wasn't a very religious woman, she prayed to whatever gods she could think of to keep him and Genesis safe. As she had told the Rhapsodos earlier, Angeal was all that she had. She had left a life of madness in Midgar after realizing the truth that Angeal's father cared nothing about him or her. In fact, once Sephiroth was born, she and her son were treated like nothing more than a common scientist and a bygone experiment. She left Midgar one rainy night, much like this one, with the shirt on her back and a few things she'd needed for her child. She wound up in Banora, looking for a more simplistic lifestyle and more importantly, a place to shield Angeal from Shin-Ra's cruel madness. As was their nature, Shin-Ra did not openly pursue what no longer had any use to them, but she did get regular visitations from the Turks, who checked in on them from time to time. The Rhapsodos family had been gracious enough to offer her and son a home and a lifestyle away from Midgar, and while she had found new love within the simplistic life she found on the farm, she realized she had never completely gotten over what she lost all of those years ago. The anger still festered deep within her soul, and it had taken her years to even marginally regain her self-esteem after she had her son were regarded as trash. Her fingers tensed and she tried hard to not to squish the baby that had since fallen asleep in her arms. Would she have wanted Shin-Ra to want them? No. Would she have wanted her child to be forgotten about and something to be discarded like his life meant NOTHING? She grinded her teeth. No, what she wanted was for the man she thought loved both of them to recognize their existence…HIS existence. To know that Angeal's father had not merely used them as a means to an end.
She suddenly exhaled, having little idea that she had been holding her breath. She had found someone after she had moved to the farm who treated her like royalty and helped her deal with the trauma that she and her son had been dealt. She had…difficulties falling in love again, but Noah was patient and kind. He became Angeal's stepfather without a second thought and raised him like his own. Angeal never knew the tragedy from which he came, and Gillian had hoped to keep it that way. No child should have to live with that. Now that he was in SOLDIER, she feared he would find out, and she feared he would be angry. The only person in the world she had left would be angry with her, and she wouldn't be able to bear it. But even worse than that: He would carry the shame that he was something less than human. She bit her lip. It would almost be better that he die at war, than find out the truth.
A tear slipped down her face and she quickly reached up to grab it before Mary Anne saw it. "Why did he have to go back to Midgar?" She whispered.
"Ms. Gillian!" Mary Anne turned around quickly with wide eyes, snapping Gillian out of her thoughts. "She's saying something!" Gillian climbed out of her chair quickly and rushed to the bedside. Both she and Mary Anne strained their ears trying to make out what the young woman was saying. "What is she saying?" Mary Anne whispered, but was cut off by Gillian shushing her.
"Pro…Professor…" The young woman muttered in her fever dream. "…Gast…the baby…" Gillian's eyes widened comically. Was she talking about Professor Gast Faremis?... The scientist that was recently murdered for running away with an experiment?
"They've come for…the baby…" Ifalna's eyes squeezed more tightly shut. She groaned in her sleep as she began to toss and turn. "Protect…her…Protect Aeris…"
Gillian looked down at the baby in her arms in amazement. This was Professor Gast and this woman's…baby? She felt her heart leap into her chest. Was this child…yet another product of the Shin-Ra Science Department?
"Gast…don't…" Ifalna's voice raised in pitch. "He'll…kill you!" Ifalna's head began to jerk back and forth as if the rest of her body was being held by an invisible force. "Stop…don't kill him...!" Ifalna pleaded. "Why can't you just leave us alone?!" And then, Ifalna let out a blood curdling scream that caused Mary Anne to leap off the bed in fright. Gillian took a step backwards, cradling the baby against her chests protectively as images from her own past flooded her mind.
"Professor….Gast…" Ifalna began to sob.
Jacob and Sandra Rhapsodos burst into the room in their pajamas with worried expressions. "What happened?" Jacob looked around the room, but found nothing out of place.
Gillian backed up from the bed until she hit the wall in fright. Her legs felt weak underneath her and Sandra ran over to steady her. "Gillian, what's wrong? What happened?"
"Nothing." Gillian managed to say between gasping for breath.
When Sandra turned to Mary Anne, the servant shook her head. "Ms. Gillian said that she was having a fever dream. I couldn't make out much of what she said…Something about the baby…and somebody not leaving them alone…" Mary Anne shook her blonde head. "She scared the living daylights out of us with her scream."
Sandra turned to look back at Gillian appraisingly. "You don't look good at all, honey." She said as she crossed the room. "Why don't you give me the baby?" She smiled softly as she put a hand on her forearm. When Gillian clutched the baby closer to her chest, Sandra frowned. "You need to rest…" She glanced back at Mary Anne who merely shrugged. "Gillian…Honey, can you hear me?"
Gillian nodded slowly, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. "I…sorry…" Gillian muttered. Sandra tenderly began to pull on Gillian's arms until she had a hold of the child in her arms. When Gillian looked down at her own arms, she couldn't believe how hard her hands were shaking. Everything seemed otherworldly and distant, and she couldn't seem to break out of her own self-imposed fog. She felt Jacob's strong arm wrap around her shoulder and begin to lead her out of the bedroom. She had no energy left to struggle or fight him off. She obediently followed him in silence into the guest bedroom where he pulled back the covers. She fell into the bed effortlessly and stared at the ceiling while time seemed to lose all meaning.
~oOo~
Godo Kisaragi leaned over a large war table, surrounded by his most trusted advisors and confidants as they studied a large map in the low light of the candle lit room. Several of his generals had been in a deep discussion for over ten minutes on how to best combat the approaching Shin-Ra warships. The consensus was, Godo realized as he gripped the edges of the table until his knuckles turned white, that there was no consensus. Their discussion had turned into something that had seemed less like a military strategy and more like an egotistical pissing match: Each saw the moment as a prime opportunity to impress the new young emperor. One wanted to retreat deep within the mountains and use a guerilla style of attack. Another was quick to point out the fault in that, and seemed to lean toward a nautical style. The third had remained unobtrusively quiet, seeming lost in thought. Their voices were rising and Godo growled under his breath until he became so frustrated he slammed his fist down on the table, causing everyone in the room to startle.
"Are you finished?" Godo snarled.
All three generals bowed their heads respectively. "But my lord…" One of them interjected. "We were just discussing the proper strategy for…"
Godo cut him off quickly. "I know what you were doing." He rolled his eyes. "Everyone from here to Midgar heard what you were doing!" The two grating generals, at least, had the decency to step back from the war table, looking ashamed. He took a deep breath as he pinched the bridge of his nose. This was getting them nowhere. When he glanced up, his eyes fell upon the thoughtful, aging general. "What are your thoughts, General Aida?"
General Aida shifted his weight nervously under the intense scrutiny of Emperor Godo. There was a long pause that caused the other two to turn toward Aida as well. "…I do not believe that Wutai can be defended against the Shin-Ra, Lord."
Godo suddenly began to darkly laugh as the candles danced behind him. All three generals backed up another step in fear. He smiled crookedly at Aida. "General Aida, is it your belief that we should lay down our lives to the Shin-Ra dogs?" His eyes narrowed. "Is it your belief that we should allow them to pillage our lands, defy our gods, and rape our children?" His voice began to rise. "Is it your BELIEF, General Aida, that Wutai should have no pride at all and that our ancestors be humbled?"
Godo watched as Aida's Adam's Apple rise and fell and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. "No, my Lord," The general continued to speak quietly. "It is my wish that all of us remain alive and that we may have good fortune negotiating a treaty."
Godo's eyes narrowed . "Get out of my sight, Aida." He growled. "Cowardice is not an option."
"Do not let your youthful pride by the downfall of our nation." Aida pleaded. "Please listen to reason, my Lord." The other two generals raised their eyebrows behind him.
"I have heard enough. If you do not remove yourself, Aida, I will personally do it for you."
General Aida opened his mouth and then quickly shut it. "That will not be necessary, Lord." He took a sharp bow before he quickly left the room, leaving his two compatriots to watch him leave.
That was when the Emperor heard a small throat clearing behind him. He turned to find a graying servant watching him nervously. "What do you want?" Godo muttered as he held his head in his hands.
"My Lord, it is about your daughter…."The servant bowed deeply.
"What about my daughter?" Godo muttered beneath his fingertips.
The servant shuffled his weight. "She needs you, sir." He said in a near whisper. "She's very upset and refuses to be consoled."
Godo spun on his heel, his eyes alight with anger once more. "And you cannot take of this yourself, because…?!"
The servant took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Lord, she has just lost her mother, grandfather, and her best friend." He swallowed. "She needs her father now." His voice shook.
"Wutai needs me more than she does." Godo answered coldly. "She needs to grow up and realize that I have more concerns than the needs of one person." He spoke sharply as he turned to face the servant. "Do the needs of one outweigh the needs of the many?" His eyes drilled into the servant. When the servant didn't respond, Godo muttered. "Her mother spoiled her and made her into a brat. A war is coming and all she is concerned with is herself."
"Lord, she is but a child…" The servant tried to argue.
"This conversation is finished. I don't have time for this." Godo cut him off and turned back around to the other two generals. The servant disappeared into the darkness.
He looked at the two generals who seemed markedly uncomfortable. In a calm voice he said, "We'll do both." When both generals nodded, he continued. "We will commandeer as many boats as we can and try to keep the Shin-Ra SOLIDERS from coming ashore." He nodded slowly. "Then, we will retreat back into the mountains. We want to keep the SOLDIERS away from the people as much as possible." He looked both men in the eye. "We will not back down." He said sternly.
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