To save a Planet
By: Bloodlover
Authour´s notes: This was a story of what I think that Aeris thought when she was on the altar, before her tragic murder by Sephiroth.
Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Square.
Aeris went calmly through the Forgotten City. She noticed the city´s strange beauty. But her thoughts was mainly focused on her task. Now she had came to a seashelled formed house. Outside it was a little lake and surrounding it all were a lot of trees. Aeris shook her head, angry with herself. She had the most important task in the whole world, to save the Planet, and she let her thoughts wander like this!
I´m sorry. It won´t happen again. I have to focus.
She went into the house and up until she came to a place where there was a big goldfish. She pointed her only weapon – the Princess Guard which she had found in the Temple of the Ancients - against it and called upon th Planet´s power to open the way. The goldfish disappeared. Where it had been was now a staircase of purest crystal. Aeris went down it with determination in her heart.
When the blue-green light from Princess Guard had faded there were no sign of the beautiful staircase, only the goldfish….
In her whole life Aeris had felt alone. She had felt different from the others in a way, which was true. She heard voices and then got to know that her mother, Ifalna who died from sickness, had been an "Ancient". Or Cetra as they called themselves so long time ago. Bugenhagen and the other wise ones in Cosmo Canyon had taught her so much….
She was stronger now and knew her powers, knew what she had to do…
What I have to do. For this Planet. For Cloud…
She closed her eyes for a while to think of her love, despite her promise earlier.
Love. Yes she really loved him. Not just because she had loved Zack.
Are you sure that it was really love Aeris?
No that was just a crush. Her feelings for Cloud went deeper than that. Just the thought of him calmed her thoughts. They had began to slip on to his nemesis, Sephiroth. He was here too. And she knew that he would stop her.
Or rather TRY to stop me! He doesn´t know it but he will play right into my hands.
The price for Holy to reach it´s biggest strengh was that another person´s life force had to be given it. She was half Cetra so she guessed it would help Holy more.
In any case I would never let an innocent give his or her life. Especially not one of my friends!
What would happen after that Aeris was not so sure. "When Holy awakens Shall the Sacrificed again become free." All that she had heard from her mother´s voice, but the last part could mean alot of things. Aeris thought, and hoped, that "the Sacrificed again become free" meant her resurrection. But it could also mean mean that she would return to the Planet, just like Bugenhagen had said at Cosmo Canyon.
NO! I can´t think like that! It must be the first alternative, I hope it means that. In any case I won´t just stay still when the Planet, my Planet, is threathened by Sephiroth and his Meteor!
She strainted her back as to give strength to her thoughts. Now she had reached the staircase´s end. And over there stood the Water Altar…
Where my sacrifice will be. Then I will return. To everyone. To Cloud.
Suddenly she felt a presence. From Sephiroth whom she knew where already there. And farther away Cloud!
Did he follow me?! Despite the dream I sent him? I told him that I would tkae care of Sephiroth and Meteor!
Aeris quickly jumped up to the altar. She threw her Princess Guard in the water. The cermony demanded that she "would throw her Material Weapon and then follow". She then felt in her purse after Holy. She held up Holy and started praying.
How long she sat there and prayed to Holy to come out and save them she didn´t know. Aeris Gainsborough had more important matters to think of. But an unknowing part of Aeris couldn´t just focus on the task. It thought of Cloud, leading him to come to the seashell house.
The crystal staircase was now visible. Sephiroth had went down moments earlier.
Aeris had now stopped praying. Now she bared her soul to Holy because now it had finally arrived.
"Aeris!"
She knew that voice. Cloud had come! He had their friends with him. Aeris was tired because of the cermony, but now she had done her part. Everything was done. Well almost everything… Only one thing was still to be done.
Sephiroth is near. Close…
The thought floated into her mind. Aeris still had a strong grip of Holy.
Cloud had during the time reached the Altar. He was alone, he had told the others to wait. Suddenly he started to shake his head. Aeris felt a strange force round herself.
Sephiroth has him. Will he use Cloud as a tool? For Cloud´s sake I hope not!
He pulled out his sword and started to walk to where she sat. He lifted his sword and started to strike at her. But just moments before the fatal blow would have split her in half she heard their friends shouting at Cloud, stopping him. He backed a couple of steps back, confused.
"What did you do?" he asked. Confusion and anger played openly on his face. She slowly raised her face.
It´s time Aeris. Are you ready?
Aeris smiled encouragely at Cloud. Over them hovered Sephiroth. And she now knew that everything where it was supposed to be.
Yes. Forgive me Cloud. We´ll meet again where all of this is over…
She felt wind blowing at her and in the next instant a sharp pain in her midsection where Sephiroth had stabbed her. She dropped Holy and it rolled down into the water below.
The pain made her delirous and she could not think clearly. One thought she managed to send out, it would be the last thought before the darkness claimed her.
Cloud. Don´t let this break you! I love you…