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"If this is all a dream; don't wake me up..."
Puppet.
Following Sephiroth had led me north to the Forgotten City. I halted briefly at a four way split in the road and without any thought I chose a random path, ending up in front of a mysterious lake with a giant shell structure beside the waters edge. Light danced across the waters causing it to sparkle and glow. Many leafless trees curved around the area of the lake, their bare branches adding an slight eerie feeling to the entire scene. Overall, it was truly beautiful. Strangely, I smelled the scent of flowers however there were none in sight. I found this peculiar but I shrugged it off and trailed over to the giant shell. Upon closer inspection I found a creaky staircase made out of the same hard framework of the shell and deathly close to crumbling under too much pressure. Out of caution, I gripped the numerous cracks within the ruff walls as I moved up the stairs one step at a time.
I pressed inch by inch onto the last step, inside satisfied I had made it without difficulty. The weight of my whole foot safely on, I leaned forward to bring my other leg up boldly, only to have the step collapse under me. With a bang I hit my head against the wall I'd been using as my crutch, little baby chocobos dancing wildly before my eyes. In my dazed state I managed to seize one of the lower cracks in the wall, my soldier reflexes just kicking in. "Damn you Sephiroth!" I grumbled, unconsciously having taken to blaming him for every mishap thrown my way. I wouldn't be half dangling in this damned hole if it wasn't for him anyway.
Ignoring the slight headache the collision with the wall had caused, I pulled myself over the crumbling edge of hole. I crawled a safe distance away and collapsed on my back. I rested a hand on my forehead, needing it lightly. "I don't have time for this…" I sighed, rising to my feet intent on leaving the mako in my body to take care of the headache. I found a door and slipped inside, my need to rush reawakened as I shook of my previous caution.
I searched the inner corridor high and low coming up empty. The only thing to catch my attention was a large glowing fish. With a frustrated sigh, I left the building, jumped the hole, and headed back the way I'd come to the split of the four paths. Another path chosen and I headed on my way again. Heading left I came to a small house and merely found a Magic Source inside. I left and headed northeast to find--- an Aurora Amulet. With a roll of my eyes I equipped the amulet and headed once more to the split and went east. I swore I could hear Sephiroth laughing at me as I ended up at yet another house. Another inspection earned me an Enemy Skill Materia, which I located behind one of the bed's after climbing a ladder to the top level of the house. Five beds, strangely arranged, filled the otherwise empty space of the top level and gradually as I stared at them I became captivated by their spell. Without much thought I laid down on the closest one, sprawled out peacefully as my eyes slipped close surrendering to the call of sleep.
As I dozed, subconsciously I heard the sound of footsteps and not just one set either. Voices and whispers of a debated discussion filled the small house but my clouded brain couldn't pick up any of it. Then the familiar sound of the creaking ladder assaulted my senses making me grumble in my slumber and turn away from the direction it sounded from. Startled gasps and one ear piercing scream finally jolted me awake just in time to brace myself as I was tackled flat against the bed. Blinking groggily, I peered up into tearful brown eyes instantly knowing their owner.
"Oh Cloud, where have you been?" she cried loudly, nearly strangling me in her joy.
"It doesn't matter, Tifa." I tried to soothe her cries, though I felt strangely uncomfortable holding her. Her arms just weren't the same. I bit my lip. How terrible I must be for thinking such thoughts. Tifa was…..Tifa is….I didn't know what we were, but she deserved a simple hug. Maybe even more.
"I told them Sephiroth forced you into it! You wouldn't…do something like that. I know you wouldn't!" she urged, while resting her head against my shoulder.
If only that were the case, Tifa….
My hand rested lightly against her back and she immediately snuggled closer to me. She accepted me so caringly with no regard for my traitorous actions. I didn't deserve such treatment, especially from her. I heard her whisper my name lovingly against my shoulder, urging me to answer in some way. I gulped hesitantly then replied, "I'm sorry Tifa." it was the only thing I could say.
She smiled, pulling away just enough to gaze into my face, oblivious to the true reason for my apology. "Why are you sorry? I told you, it wasn't your fault. Now that we're…all together again you won't have to face Sephiroth alone." she pressed, with no intentions of moving off of me any time soon and I didn't feel right pushing her away.
Now that we're all together…
It finally hit me that the request I'd made to Sephiroth had been granted. I hadn't had to wait until the reunion. They were right here….with me. I blinked glancing away from Tifa to the others: Barret, Cid, Vincent, Yuffie, Red XIII(Nanaki), Cait Sith, and---someone was missing.
You remember me?
Who had asked me that?
You cannot save her…
Why couldn't I remember?!
"CLOUD!"
With a sudden jolt I jumped to my feet, wincing when I heard Tifa's startled scream. Mumbling a quick apology I helped her to her feet. Then I gazed at each of my companions silencing them into attention with just one look. The look of a leader, a role they had given me. Putting all else to the side, my thoughts and feelings, I began. "We have to stop Sephiroth. Aeris is in danger, we have to save her!"
After quickly explaining the situation we slit into groups and went our separate ways once more. Tifa and Cid came with me. Feeling drawn I led them back to the shell-shaped building I'd ended up previously and had to do a double take when I noticed the large fish residing inside was gone. In place of the fish a spiraling staircase revealed itself and without hesitation we hurried down the stairs. A faintly glowing blue path catch our attention and we followed the ramp to the bottom.
The area we were now in held a mixture of crumbled rocks and pillars while the walls glowed like crystals emitting an array of colors to fill the room. Ancient and extraordinarily beautiful. As we moved closer to a platform in the center of the room located over water, I felt an indescribable pull at my consciousness. Against my better judgment I ignored the strange pull, telling Tifa and Cid to wait as I checked things out by myself.
Pillars set up in the water gradually rising in height acted as my stairway to the large platform. I effortlessly jumped each pillar, showing off my 'First Class Soldier' skills. Then I saw her. She sat on her knees with her head bowed in prayer and I smiled stepping off at last onto the pillar. I opened my mouth to call out to her as I moved forward, but I froze suddenly gripping my head in agony. Dropping to my knees with my hands clutched tightly at my head, I fought against the gradual slip of my control. "Sephi-roth….?"
I blacked out.
He moved my body like a puppet on strings, I unsheathed my buster sword. Then slowly moved to stand in front of Aeris. My sword rose and I brought it down.
"C-CLOUD!!!"
I stopped and blinked my eyes open. First I was confused then I inched back in horror. What was I trying to do? H-Had I just tried….? No! I would never…!
Her eyes slipped opened and I stared into them completely ashamed. But she smiled and filled me with warmth. As if she had forgiven me when I was positive she hadn't seen my attempt on her life. I reached out to her, returning her smile the best I could. A-Aeris.
Then he came and destroyed that simple moment of happiness. He stole her smile and forced her eyes to close forever. Like an angel he descended from the glass ceiling above and struck her down like a demon from hell. Masamune pierced her flesh feeding his mother's hunger for conquest. Without care for her life he removed his sword raising it high into the air triumphantly. Limply she fell forward into my waiting arms and I clutched her tightly against my chest, feeling the burn of tears in my eyes. "Sephiroth…why? WHY!"
"Why do you act as if you have feelings?"
I choked out a sob staring into Aeris's face, feeling so many emotions all at once, but mostly anger and hurt. "S-Stop. How can you say that? Sephiroth….how can you….?"
"My eyes burn, my hands are shaking, and my heart aches! Are those not feelings?!" I growled venomously.
He smirked, lowering Masamune. "You are just a puppet. You have no heart and cannot feel any pain."
"….." I jerked back, the tears streaming down my face and the dryness of my throat displaying my heart's agony. My blue eyes dropped to the floor, betrayal shining within their deep depths. "I'd thought he cared, but…I should have never believed he'd…"
Delicate leather covered fingers forced my chin up, raising my eyes to meet his mako green ones. He'd crouched down before me, having crossed the small distance previously between us soundlessly. I didn't dare lean into his touch or melt under the intensity of his gaze. "He'd hurt me enough already, why couldn't he just leave…"
Though my words were cold and my thoughts hateful, my heart still managed to betray me. Even though I clutched Aeris's body in my arms, overwhelmed with grief over her death, and shaking with the ferocity of my emotions I was rendered helpless. His lips kissed my tears away like he hadn't been the one to cause them and wished to comfort me. A light kiss on my lips and cheek like he wanted me to know I was loved. Then he rose gracefully, moving back under the light casted down from the break in the ceiling. His eyes met mine in a special look solely for me and then he flew out the way he came, on the invisible wing of a broken angel.
"You will always be my….puppet."
My heart tightened, as those words whispered almost lovingly into my mind. Then my eyes fell to Aeris shamefully. "I'm sorry."
::Amg, chapter three recieved really wonderful reviews; I'm so happy! Arigato, Mina-san! -hugs- This chapter is longer than my other ones, so I hope I somewhat appeased those that wanted longer chapters.::