Calamity's Reign: Chapter 4 - WEAPON
Sephiroth watch with growing aggravation as Cloud fell to his knees at the ruined corpse of his adopted son Denzel. The puppet was damaged, borderline broken. Through the link they shared, he could feel his despair, his loss of will to fight. It was everything he could have dreamed of. Only, there was one problem. HE hadn't been the one to do it. The pest had done it, stolen the glory and satisfaction from him. Through the pest's newfound child; Tifa had given Cloud the gift of despair. She had stolen his gift and given it in his stead...
He was LIVID.
Even more than that, he had been outdone. Not even his destruction of Nibelheim had been as devastating or as brutal. Tifa killed every last man, woman, and child. He had left survivors, if only because he couldn't be bothered to track them down while Mother was waiting for him. But beyond the loss of life, there was something far more destructive. No one had particularly cared when he had went insane. Perhaps... perhaps Zack had, but, he had still fought. Cloud himself had just been angry that his childhood hero turned out to be a monster, he didn't personally care. But, there were people who cared about Tifa Lockheart, many people, including those she had just murdered. This was blow that would last until the day they all died, from which, he doubted any of them would truly ever recover. Tifa had emotionally damaged them so heavily, he wasn't certain ANY of them could be of further use. While he was powerful, he doubted he could take on both the pest and a Calamity empowered Tifa at the same time. He, unfortunately, required the puppet's aid and currently, the puppet was a mess.
This was unacceptable.
Sephiroth grudgingly recalled memories of his days as the top of SOLDIER 1st Class. How to lead, how to command. These were things he had not used in a long time. He was loath to dredge up the past, but, there was little choice at the moment. He identified the problem immediately: Moral, there was none. If nothing was done, then the puppet would be useless in the upcoming fights. He might still force his body to move and fight, but it would be without the heart and soul he put into their own personal fights. As much as he desired it, he would not see his puppet broken, not by the hands of another.
"Strife," said Sephiroth, choosing to drop the term 'puppet' and his first name 'Cloud' in favor of a professional acknowledgement as to not break him further.
Cloud didn't respond.
Sephiroth narrowed his eyes. When he spoke, he was to be acknowledged.
"Cadet Strife, you will answer when I speak to you," barked Sephiroth.
Cloud barely tilted his head. "Cadet?"
There was a quiver of a smirk on Sephiroth's face. "I don't believe you ever became anything higher than a SOLDIER Cadet. Unless you count trooper cannon fodder or being an experiment as above that."
Cloud turned his head back to Denzel with nothing more than a grunt given in acknowledgement.
Sephiroth resisted the urge to drive Masamune through the back of his head and be done with it, he needed something to force action, but what?
Oh, oh yes, he had an idea, as much as the thought of the words leaving his mouth disgusted him. "If you want to save your friend Tifa, you will need to stop this pitiful display of weakness, pick up your sword, and move on."
That got his attention. "Save Tifa?"
Sephiroth nodded curtly and spoke a... half-truth, half-lie. "She is under the pest's direct influence and control. Destroy him, and she may yet be salvaged."
The lie was that Tifa was being controlled. He hadn't felt any active and direct control being issued from the pest. No, whatever the pest had done to her to warp her mind had made her slaughter those she once cared for willingly. He could readily admit, he admired the pest's handiwork. Shame that he had to kill him.
The truth was that if there was anything actually to be done for Tifa, the pest did have to die first. If only to make sure he didn't interfere in the process. Whatever the puppet and his allies could try to do for her could only come afterwords, not that he really cared either way. But... he could admit, he was... curious about what she had become. Save for the color of her eyes... she did directly change to resemble him, in color, complexity, and presence. Would all children of the Calamities share such features and presence? His remnants had, but, they were remnants. They were supposed to resemble him.
Cloud gave a frustrated sigh and rose to his feet. "He's right. We have to move. We'll make a grave and bury Marlene and Denzel here for now. This is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Let's mosey people."
Sephiroth crossed his arms and watched them bury the two children. When they finished, they walked past him towards the airship, or at least, most of them did.
Cloud paused briefly at his side, a conflicted look on his face. "I lost myself for a moment there. Sephiroth... I... thanks... I guess..."
Sephiroth's eyes went wide with surprise as Cloud walked onward. Had the puppet just THANKED him? Perhaps he was more broken than he thought...
Aerith watched dispassionately from the lifestream as Cloud and the others boarded the airship and left in pursuit of the new Calamity and... its daughter...
A wave of horrific guilt hit her. "Oh Tifa..."
Zack squeezed her shoulder. "It's not your fault Aerith."
Aerith didn't have the strength to argue with him right now. She just watched, depressed, at the events unfolding on the world above them.
"Omega's Squire has attained the Holy Materia," said Minerva.
Aerith focused her gaze and looked to the Forgotten Capital, seeing Vincent fly out of the water clutching the precious materia. "Good, but..."
She frowned. "What can honestly be done with it? I thought only a Cetra could use it?"
"You are correct," answered Minerva.
Aerith turned to her, growing confused. "Is... is there another Cetra alive?!"
Minerva shook her head. "No. You were the last."
Aerith grew confused. "Then... why seek out Holy?"
Minerva merely smiled at her and spoke aloud, but not to them. "Vincent Valantine, are you prepared for your next task?"
Vincents voice echoed back to them. "Yes."
"Go back into the lake and retrieve my beloved daughter's body," ordered Minerva.
Aerith blinked a few times. Minerva wanted her body brought up from the lake? Why? And wait, it was still there? Why hadn't it dispersed to the lifestream? Strange...
She watched Vincent dive back in, and a few minutes later, she saw him return with her corpse. She... was surprised to see that it had changed at all. Her body hadn't decayed whatsoever...
"Good, now, set her down upon the alter, cut open her heart and then wait," ordered Minerva.
Aerith paled a bit, watching as Vincent did as instructed. "What? Why are you having him butcher my corpse?!"
Minerva did not answer her immediately. "Hold Holy within your hand and wait Vincent Valentine."
Minerva turned to Aerith. "Beloved child. You who have given up so much in your life. I must ask of you one more task."
Aerith looked at her, not understanding. "What?"
"Welcome Holy into your heart," said Minerva, "Become my Holy WEAPON."
Aerith went still, shock on her face. "You... your... I..."
"Your going to send her back, send her back just to fight that thing?" accused Zack with anger.
Minerva ignored him. "Beloved child. Will you merge with Holy? Will you become my most treasured and beloved WEAPON? Will you help to save Gaia and strike down the Calamity's and their children?"
Aerith's face hardened. "And their children? If your sending me back to kill Tifa, then the answer is NO!"
Minerva was taken aback. "Beloved child..."
Aerith stood her ground. "Its my fault she became like that because I listened to YOU! I will NOT kill Tifa! She can be saved! I know she can!"
Minerva studied her briefly. "If so, she cannot be saved from the lifestream."
Aerith frowned at her. "Goddess..."
"Become my Holy WEAPON, and your friend Tifa's fate will be placed into your hands. Whether she can be saved or not, the Planet will wash it's hands of her judgement, that is the most we will offer," bargained Minerva, "Is this acceptable?"
Aerith nodded. "It is."
Minerva smiled at her. "Your life will be yours to live as you see fit in times of peace. But when called, you must rise to fight as my Holy WEAPON. Now, beloved daughter, prepare yourself."
"Vincent Valentine, place the Holy Materia into my beloved child's heart and stand back," ordered Minerva.
Aerith trembled with anticipation and nervousness as Vincent did as instructed... and...
And her world turned white and green...
Zack Fair covered his eyes as a flash of light enveloped Aerith. When he brought his arm down, she was gone.
He smiled. "Good luck Aerith..."
He sighed sadly. "I wish I could help her. Don't suppose I could convince you to send me back to help her as well?"
Minerva turned her head to look at him. "No."
Zack's face fell. "Figured."
Minerva chuckled. "No, you need not convince us on an act we have already decided upon."
Zack coughed. "Wait... what? Seriously?!"
Minerva turned fully to address him. "Zack Fair. You have never acknowledged it within Aerith's presence, but, you do remember us, do you not?"
Zack winced. "Y-yeah... we kind of fought in the Cavern of Wonders... was wondering if you remembered that."
Minerva smiled. "There is a reason beyond the company you give to our beloved daughter that we did not allow your soul to disperse into the lifestream. We tested your power and will, and we were impressed. You will make a fine WEAPON."
Zack blushed a little. "Praise from a goddess, oh man. So what kind of WEAPON am I gonna be? Please don't tell me I'm a Puppy WEAPON.
Minerva seemed amused. "No, not quite."
"Feeeeew," exclaimed Zack with relief.
"Zack Fair, will you accept our offer at life and become our Dream WEAPON?" asked Minerva.
Zack blinked a few times, taken aback. "Uh... Dream WEAPON? What kind of name is that?"
"You Zack Fair, have never given up upon your dreams, on your honor and pride, on your friends or those you love," said Minerva, "You sacrificed everything for them, for a dream that never truly died. So long as you, or someone that holds you dear in their heart shares in your dream, you can never truly die. As Calamity's Child does, you will be able to will yourself to be reborn again, as a dream that never dies. Will you accept? Will you bear Gaia's dreams upon your shoulders?"
Zack stared at her, speechless. "Goddess..."
He scratched his head. "Yeah sure, why not? Hit me up and I'll go take a crack at that Calamity thing!"
Minerva held up a hand. "In time. There is one final task you must first take within the lifestream. There is one more WEAPON we wish to craft, the Honor WEAPON."
Zack raised an eyebrow. "Another weird named one."
Minerva nodded. "While capable of fighting, his duty is different. His purpose is to uphold the integrity, purity, and mental stability of the other WEAPONs, and any further ones we may create in the future. So long as he lives, he can prevent the Calamity's taint from afflicting the other WEAPONS. Thus, his purpose is perhaps the most important. For if the Calamity's could take a WEAPON from us, disaster would befall us all. It took us much effort to restore his consciousness and memories from the lifestream. However he is... unwilling to rise to the occasion. He has forgotten his dreams, and his honor. We ask that you remind him."
Minerva waved her hand, and a form began to appear from the swirl of the lifestream.
Zack suckered in a breath. "Angeal..."
Aerith groaned and reached a hand up to rub her forehead. "Oww..."
Her hand. She had a physical hand. She took in a breath, feeling real air in her lungs. She felt her damp clothes on her skin. She felt her body tingle, restored and in use once more. She felt... she felt alive... she was alive...
"Welcome back Aeirth," said a voice above her.
Aerith opened her eyes, noticing Vincent standing above her, offering a hand. She smiled and took it, enjoying the feeling, the sensation, of physical contact, letting him haul her up.
"It's good to be b-b-back...," started Aerith.
A dizzy spell hit her and she nearly collapsed, clutching a hand over her heart. "I... what..."
A soft green-white glow surrounded her body for a moment. For a second, she could feel the lifestream just as readily as she could while in the lifestream. no, even more-so. She could fully hear the planets call in a way that she had never been able to before in her previous life. She felt... an open connection to the planet, and could faintly hear Minerva and Zack talking. She froze, shocked, when she heard Minerva's proposal to Zack.
A smile touched her lips. "Thank you Minerva..."
Vincent raised an eyebrow.
Aerith shook her head and focused. "She's connected me to the planet in a way I never thought possible."
She closed her eyes. "I can feel the Calamity's presence as if it were a festering wound in my own body. It's on the move, Tifa and the infected corpses in tow. It's..."
Her eyes went wide with horror. "Oh no... it's heading for Mideel! The Mako pool... if it feeds on that... Vincent! We have to go, now!"
Zack Fair stood across from Angeal Hewely, both of them staring at each other with apprehension. What was he supposed to say to him? What was he supposed to do? No, no wait, he knew EXACTLY what to do right now.
Zack walked up to Angeal and slugged him across his face as hard as he could, sending him staggering. "How could you DO THAT to me Angeal?"
Angeal said nothing.
"You... you made me kill you Angeal," whispered Zack, "Do you... do you know what that was like Angeal? It... it was awful."
"I'm sorry Zack," murmured Angeal.
"Oh no, no, you don't get out of this with just an 'I'm sorry Zack," said Zack with fury.
He walked up and pointed a finger in his face. "You abandoned me! No, even worse, you abandoned Seph!"
Angeal frowned. "Sephiroth became the monster we were all born to be..."
Zack yelled at him, "SHUT UP! I'm sick of that crap! You Angeal, were NEVER a monster! Seph, was NOT a monster back then, and from what I remember hearing, neither was Genesis at the beginning. Wings sprouting out of your back does NOT make you a monster. Hell, if you ask me I would have gladly grown a wing just to prove it. Those things are cool man."
Minerva seemed amused at his words, a soft chuckle escaping her lips, but remained silent.
Zack continued, "But it didn't matter in the end, and you know what did matter Angeal? You. Weren't. There. When Seph was lost in himself, when he started down that path I watched him descend to, when he went crazy, you weren't there to stop him. You could have grounded him to reality in a way I wasn't able to. You could have helped him through it! But NO! You abandoned him, you and Genesis both. He had no one left Angeal, no one and nothing. You don't know how much that destroyed him, and I wasn't even close to enough to help him. He was going to leave Shinra after that mission, but then... then... he just went... he killed... Hey! Don't you look away!"
Zack clenched his fists. "Dammit Angeal! Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
Angeal flinched and forced his eyes to meet him. "Zack..."
"Where was your SOLDIER honor? Where was your SOLDIER pride? Without you, SOLDIER became a den of monsters!" exclaimed Zack, "Without you, Sephiroth became the monster he is today."
Angeal bowed his head. "I am without honor."
Zack walked up to him again, but rather than strike him, he hugged him fiercely, as if life or death. "Then reclaim it."
Angeal flinched. "Zack..."
"Come back with me, help me make things right!" demanded Zack.
"I don't... I don't know if I can," said Angeal, "What I've done in the past..."
Zack shook his head and separated from him. "It's like Minerva said to Vincent. It's not about the past. It's about the future. Reclaim your honor, reclaim your pride, and make a new dream for yourself."
Angeal smiled faintly. "A new dream?"
Zack nodded. "Yeah, c'mon, you can think of one, right? Dare to dream big!"
Angeal leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "I... I dream, I want... I want things to be the way they were before. Between the three of us."
Zack blinked a few times. "Three?"
"I want to sit together, with Genesis and Sephiroth, as friends once more, sharing Banora Whites," said Angeal faintly.
Zack smirked. "That's a tough one, but, I did say dream big, didn't I? Ya know, I think Genesis shared that dream too. He even made a mock up of it with me when I was running from Shinra. It's better when multiple people share in a dream."
Angeal grew quiet. "Genesis..."
Zack nodded. "Minerva said he's back too. Guess you'll have to try and fix things together. Don't envy you though, that's your mess your cleanup. I'm really not interested in fighting Sephiroth again unless I have to."
His face darkened. "Though, if he dares go after Aerith again, I'll do what I have to."
Angeal nodded. "Sephiroth is... my burden to bear I suppose."
"So, you'll come back then?" asked Zack.
Angeal sighed. "I don't deserve a second chance Zack, but... others do. If my mere existence can keep the other WEAPONs pure and safeguard the planet, then... what right to I have to refuse? It's the least penance I can pay."
Zack crossed his arms. "I ain't gonna argue whether you deserve a second chance or not with you right now. We have a job to do as SOLDIERs. That Calamity thing is going to kill or corrupt everything on the planet. We have to go."
Zack started to turn before pausing. "I also have something of yours I need to give back when we go back."
Angeal frowned. "Something of mine?"
Zack turned to Minerva. "I'm pretty sure neither of us have bodies at the moment."
Minerva nodded. "We will create you new bodies, recreations of what you once were, but imbued with the power of a WEAPON."
"Can you send us back at Midgar? Or well, whats left of it? There's something there I need to pick up there," said Zack.
Minerva nodded, a hint of understanding on her face. "As you wish. But, know this. After we send you back, the part the planet has to play in this will be over. We will be... tired... far to tired to help. Reviving a soul and restoring a body is an extreme use of our already weakened power. The Planet's fate will be in your hands.
Zack nodded. "Alright."
He turned his head. "Ready 'Geal?"
Angeal nodded curtly. "As ready as I can be."
Minerva aimed a hand at them and then spoke one final offering. "Dreams, my WEAPON, never let go of them."
With a flash of light, they were gone.
Zack groaned and rose to a knee. "Oww, major headache man."
He frowned, feeling something strange on his shoulder. He looked to his right, seeing a white wing floppily laying over his shoulder. "C'mon Angeal, get your wing off me."
There was a groan, but, the distance was rather far away...
Zack gave a startled yelp and leaped to his feet in shock. It wasn't Angeal's wing... it was HIS wing. What the heck?
He hesitated, flexing his shoulder and extending the wing. "Woah... cooooooooool! Heeeey Angeal look! I guess Minerva took me for my word and got me a wing just like yours!"
Angeal sat up in the distance, gazing over at him. "Zack..."
Zack took a look around, they were at the Midgar Crater. He could only hope he could find what he was looking for.
"So, how do we use these things?" asked Zack, thumbing at the wing.
Angeal looked a bit lost, seeing him so casually acting after getting a wing. "I... well... it's kind of instinctual I suppose. Just... flap it I guess?"
Zack snorted. "Just flap it he says. Well, why not?"
Zack flexed his shoulder, and the wing righted itself before beating down and thrusting him into the air with a giant gust... and then he crashed back down after.
"Omph, whoops," said Zack.
Angeal stared at the spectacle for a moment before he started chuckling. "Well, perhaps the puppy has been upgraded to a 'chick'."
"Nope, that's Spikey's role. He's totally the chocobo," countered Zack.
Zack tried again, continually, but softly beating the wing to keep himself inair. "Awesome... hey, C'mon Angeal!"
Angeal hesitated for a moment before releasing his wing from his back and extending it. They took off and flew into the crator.
"C'mon, there's no way the that meteor could have destroyed it," said Zack.
"What exactly are you looking for?" asked Angeal.
"Something special that you gave to me," answer Zack.
Angeal went silent, thinking.
Thankfully, they didn't have to go far. Out of a slab of rock, still standing in pristine condition, as if waiting for them, was the Buster Sword. Zack flew down to it, pulled it out, and turned to Angeal who landed next to him.
"Here, I believe this is your's," said Zack.
Angeal took a step back. "Zack... I'm not fit to wield that..."
Zack flipped it, handle out, and poked Angeal in the chest. "Full circle man, you passed it on to me, I passed it on to Spikey, he ditched it, now I'm taking it to pass it back to you. Take it, and actually use it this time, ya hear me? None of that wear and tear crap."
Angeal looked lost and conflicted for a moment before he hesitatingly put his hands on the handle. Zack let go and watched, a smile spreading across his face, as Angeal gripped his sword two handed, hefting it up.
"Welcome back old friend," whispered Angeal, a sad look on his face.
Angeal paused. "What are you going to wield, if not the Buster Sword?"
Zack blanked. "Uh... well... I didn't think that far ahead."
Angeal gave him a look. "Zack..."
Zack held up his hands defensively. "Gimi a break, I'm sure I can find something."
Bubble BURST
Both of them flinched as a sound and a burst of Mako erupted from the pools below. Zack blinked and looked down, sighting a sword handle sticking out of one of the shallow pools. He raised an eyebrow and flew down, hovering over the pool. He hesitated briefly, eyeing the handle.
The handle was large and white-green, with a gold orb at the bottom of the handle. He grabbed it and pulled out the blade, his eyes going wide as he did. The blade was buster style, large and sharp on one side with a heavy flat edge on the other. The sharp end was shiny white-steel. The flat end was green like Mako. A line, seemingly made of gold, connected the two parts.
"Woah...," whispered Zack.
"A blade made of dreams of the lifestream, one final blessing of the planet," Minerva's voice whispered into his mind.
Zack smiled faintly. "Thanks Goddess."
He looked up to Angeal, a determined look on his face. "We got a Calamity to beat, let's fly!"
With a flap of their wings, they took off, Buster Swords in hand, white feathers softly falling from the sky...
Author's Notes:
They're back baby woot! Aerith, Zack, Angeal (and Vincent, though he wasn't gone long) return, all as WEAPONs of the planet. Though, Aerith is a bit different then "normal" WEAPONs, ignoring that they (and Genesis) are the 1st human based WEAPONs. She has Holy directly absorbed into her body, as Chaos is to Vincent. What exactly that means will remain to be seen, soon(tm).
If people thought Cloud thanking Sephiroth was strange, there IS a reason Cloud awkwardly put in the effort to do so. Cloud will personally go in-depth and struggle with his reasoning and explanations later on. You could probably guess at the reason though. Hint: It involves Tifa.
There are four Groups pursuing the Morbunova/Tifa, sorted in terms of closest to the Calamity:
1) Cloud, Sephiroth, Yuffie, Cid, Nanaki, Barret.
2) Genesis (Will make his appearance within the next few chapters)
3) Zack and Angeal.
4) Vincent and Aerith.
Big guns come in last!