III. Meanings Explained
Chapter 1: Aeris and the Waterfall
Cloud sighed, shouldering his large sword. The intricate, shell-like buildings of the Ancient civilization were untouched, peacefully deteriorating. The Ancients had lost the game with time and Jenova, slowly fading from this planet; their buildings were gracefully following them into the oblivion of history. The spires and swirls of the city, the sea-inspired colors and lovely maritime walkways brought back painful memories. Cloud looked around him at the beauty, yet all he could feel was sorrow. Aeris. She was with him, in his mind, even now - beckoning forward. His sense of responsibility toward the young, innocent girl had not changed an ounce. She saved the planet, Cloud. You'd think she could take care of herself. And still he felt drawn to her - guilt, yes, and the strong sense of owing her something. And then there was the way he was drawn to her laughter and light, her eyes ...
A movement beside him shook him from reverie. Tifa was rummaging through her things, trying to find the small kit which would build itself into the tents they used when traveling. They had found a safe place to camp for the evening before descending to the depths of the Forgotten City. Cloud smiled. Tifa had been the best of friends, and always more. He stooped to help her and was rewarded by that dazzling smile she had perfected; he returned the smile, but inwardly shook: that familiar wrenching of feelings, the odd conflict between Aeris and Tifa, could not be so easily forgotten. Not while Aeris speaks in my mind...
Aurora stood by Red, assisting as the cosmoe showed her how to construct a tent from the kits so easily purchased at any good store. She listened attentively to his eager instructions, imitating the motions he made with his large paws. During the days they had spent traveling Midgar and resting in Wutai, Aurora had opened up slightly, becoming a little more relaxed and natural. Cloud noted, however, that she still lacked any true emotions except for the vague interest she expressed in Cid's stories, Barrett's anecdotes, and a few of his more meager jokes. Though she had ceased to respond to questions like a programmed robot, Cloud was not sure if that was a true development or the result of his irritation with her mannerisms. Her smiles were weak - but at least she smiled. She seemed to be a little more used to her freedom.
Yuffie was watching Red and Aurora with a grin on her face, poking fun at Red's puppy-like gestures. At once Red spun on his heels and pounced, knocking Yuffie off of her precarious perch on a high rock. They rolled into the dust, Yuffie sputtering. Tifa giggled at Red's proud stance atop the ninja's wriggling body. There was a thud as Yuffie punched Red's flank; he coughed, and moved so the girl could stand. She brushed herself off, then met Red's gaze. They burst into laughter.
Vincent leaned against a nearby tree, watching the spectacle. Actually, he was watching as Aurora watched the interplay. She is trying to learn emotion, he thought. So curious. Who would have thought that the same hands that pieced together my twisted being could have created something seemingly so benign, so peaceful? He watched as Red came back to Aurora, still grinning. The girl had a small smile on her face, the way she had learned in the past few days to express happiness or amusement. Red cocked his head, as if considering a pounce in her direction, then continued the tent lesson.
Barrett and Cid had put together a pile of wood, and now sat around it, relaxing. "...sure hope she's there," Barrett was saying as Tifa and Cloud approached, having been more successful with their tent than Red's canine form and Aurora's inexperience. "I've got a ton of questions for that girl."
"Aeris?" Tifa asked, reaching for a snack. "Like what?"
"Well, like healin' the planet," Barrett said impatiently. "We've always had to work for the planet, now more than anythin'. We've gotta clean up all the mess the damn Weapons and Meteor and Sephiroth made, and we ain't got any power! And then there's Midgar," he said, taking a sip from a canteen. "I wanna know what happened there."
"What do you mean?" Tifa asked, curious.
"Well," Barrett replied, "look. First Midgar goes suckin' up all the Mako, so it gets hit by one of the Weapons. Then Meteor seems to be aiming for it - but Meteor and the Weapons weren't on the same side. Then Holy and the Lifestream come in and save Midgar. Why's that? Was it just luck that Meteor was headed there? Why save it? And then what the hell do we do now with all the wreckage?"
Red settled himself next to the small fire. "What I want to know," he said slowly, "is about the Materia - the two most important ones. What happened to them? Sephiroth had the Black Materia; he summoned Meteor. Where is it now?"
Tifa shook her head. "I never even thought about that, Red. And the White Materia ..."
"That was in Aeris's possession," Red nodded. "Where is that now? What should we do with them? It seems to me that they are potent problems we need to take care of. But what to do with them? There's no where to put them anymore."
Vincent remained in the shadows, but spoke. "Do you believe Aeris can answer these questions?"
Cloud looked at him and nodded. "If we can speak to her, yes. I think she is the best person to talk to, if we can reach her."
The night passed in peace and silence. Morning dawned golden over the misty valley holding the Forgotten City. They awoke slowly, gathered their things, then traveled to the small, broken house which held the ancient platform.
Cloud approached it cautiously. The waterfall Bugenhagen had summoned as a screen for the Ancient projector had ceased to fall, and the old projector itself was nowhere to be seen. "I don't know what to do now," he said slowly. "Last time..."
Red closed his eyes. "Last time, Bugenhagen did it for us," he said softly. Tifa looked over at him and, seeing his sorrow, ran a hand through the soft hair on his head for comfort. He looked gratefully up at her. "I have no idea what he did, either," he admitted. "I'm not far enough in my studies, I guess."
Cloud reached into the small pocket where he kept certain important treasures and drew out the Ancient Key. Old and gnarled, it lay in his hand, seeming to pulse with life. "What about this?" he said, and then had a thought. He turned to Aurora, holding the key to her. "Was this in your dreams?" he meant to ask. But he had turned too fast, and the key slipped from his grasp, landing inside the detailed circle with a delicate clink.
Aurora's eyes widened at the sound. Cautiously, slowly, she took one step forward. Cloud looked at her, confused, then obediently got out of her way. On her face was something like determination, some strange realization. She took another cautious step; her foot landed within the boundaries of the ancient mosaic, and her entire body lit up, bathed in shimmering light. Cloud gasped. She knelt on the ground and reached out shining white fingers to touch the key.
The air around them lit up with a pure, white light. Startled, they took a step back from the glowing girl before them. A sound from above distracted them; through the misty sparkle of the magic before them they saw a wall of water, falling - no, not water, but Lifestream, sparking green and glittering, liquid, thick with promise, falling just past the edge of the now-glowing platform. From the ground beneath, the vibrant green liquid oozed through the cracks, sprayed upward in swirls, meeting the falling curtain of life halfway. The current stabilized, making a solid wall; the light within gathered; a door somewhere opened, and a figure stood before them, shining in radiance.
"Aeris."
Cloud's voice was full of wonder as he took a step forward, standing slightly behind the motionless form of Aurora, still kneeling on the ground, clutching the key in her outstretched hands. The form before them was, unmistakably, Aeris Gainsborough. Outlined and colored in the deep healing green of the Lifestream, she was yet plainly recognizable as the flower girl they had all known. She nodded at them and smiled, stretching her arms out. "Hello, everyone," she said. Her voice was clear, and evoked memories in their minds.
"Aeris - I - where are you?" Cloud was frazzled, distracted, at her appearance.
Her voice, when she spoke, was lovely and sweet, full of peace. "I'm here, in the Lifestream. They've let me travel back and forth to return to this planet, to help and heal. I've been watching you all, trying to take care of you and the planet. Thank you for all you've done," she said, looking at Barrett and then Red.
Barrett blushed. "Ain't nothin'," he said finally. "It's only what you'd do if you were ..."
Aeris smiled, sparkles from the Lifestream framing her young face. "It's ok," she said to Barrett. "I'm still with you, and I will be as long as I can. Eventually I will pass on to the Promised Land," she explained, pure joy in her voice. "But every Cetra is given a small amount of time to finish things they may need to take care of."
"Have you seen the Promised Land?" Tifa asked, her voice full of awe.
Aeris's eyes, as they met Tifa's, shone with her smile. "Yes," Aeris said. "It's unbelievable. A meeting place from all Planets, built by the Cetra to hold all the souls who deserve happiness. Everyone we have lost has ended up there," she said softly. "All those who fought with us and passed away. See, anyone who loses their life in the service of the Planet is taken immediately to the Promised Land." She smiled. "My mother is there, and the father I never knew - Professor Gast." Vincent blinked, surprised. "Zack from Soldier is there - and, of course, Bugenhagen," she continued, watching a smile dawn on Red's canine face. "And," with a kind look at Barrett and Tifa, "Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie."
Tifa let out a sob, surprised. One tear ran down Barrett's cheek as he bowed his head for his old friends.
"You see," Aeris said, "I'm not alone here."
Cloud looked up from the ground. He had seemingly missed the previous conversation, having been wrestling with something that shone plainly on his face. He turned his eyes on Aeris's glowing form. "Can we bring you back?"
There was nothing but silence, and another faint sob from Tifa. Aeris closed her eyes in thought, then opened them; they shone with the sparkle and promise of the Lifestream. "No," she said.
"But -" Cloud was shocked. "There has to be some way. Tell us what to do, Aeris. Show us the magic of the Ancients. We'll do it."
Tifa cleared another sob from her throat. "We'd do it for you, Aeris," she said quietly.
The Ancient shook her head. "No," she repeated. "There are ...chances I have heard of, possibilities. There may have been ways in the past. But summoning forth something that great would require much too much time, too much energy. The Planet was wounded in its struggle with Meteor; there's no power to spare. Right now, the Planet needs your help, as do the people. I would ask you to devote yourselves to them ...and not to me."
Cloud took a step toward her, his face a mix of disbelief, confusion, and pain. "Aeris," he said softly. "Please, Aeris, we need you..."
Aeris spread her hands slowly; the Lifestream swirled about her until she and Cloud were surrounded in its shimmering walls, cut off from everyone else. "Cloud," she whispered. They were alone together, both surrounded and separated by the sparkling, flowing green.
A tear fell as he looked at her, feeling again all the pain of her death. "Aeris, don't leave me," he replied.
"Cloud," she said, sorrow in her eyes. "I love you. I have always loved you. But things are different now. Here," she gestured, shining white flakes following her movements, "in the Lifestream, I can love and care for an entire planet." Her voice was full of awe. "I cannot come back."
He looked at her, angry and hurt. "What about ...what about our love? Are you giving up on me?"
Aeris shook her head, her eyes full of concern. "Cloud, you need to understand," she whispered. "I am not giving up on our love. Instead, I am going to take that love and spread it over our entire world. I cannot be selfish and return to life, loving only one person. I have the capacity to embrace everything, including you. Cloud," she said, a shimmering tear falling down her face, "you will be my focal point for a love that will span this Planet and heal it."
"Aeris," he said hopelessly.
She bowed her head. "Do not make the last Ancient selfish and foolish," she whispered. "I am to be a giver, not a taker."
Suddenly, her eyes opened, as if she had remembered something. Whirling a hand, the Lifestream parted and the two returned to the group, who watched with staring eyes. Tifa's face was streaked with tears; Cid, Vincent and Barrett were full of wonderment; Yuffie was shaking visibly; Red, though awed, was gently nosing a small figure on the ground, still clenching the key very tightly...
"Aurora."
Aeris's voice was gentle, yet full of command. The girl on the ground looked up, and on her face were fear and respect together, clearer than any emotions had been.
"Stand up, child." Aurora quickly stood, her body still shimmering faintly, her hand clasping the key so tightly it had dug into her palm. Aeris smiled at her, but her eyes kept their caution and fear.
"I was right, and you heard me..." Aeris was staring at the girl's face. "Aurora, where are you from?"
The girl's voice quavered. "I was ...I was created in the labs of Professor Hojo of Shinra."
"Do you remember me?" Aeris asked kindly. Aurora looked up, and a tiny bit of recognition appeared in her eyes, making some of the fear disappear.
"Yes," she said in wonderment. "You came to the labs a couple times. Hojo wanted to ...but Gast ..." Her voice trailed off, terror returning.
Aeris sighed and closed her eyes. "I need to see..." She clasped her hands before her, deep in thought and prayer. A silver shimmer surrounded her clasped fingers, then gently settled over Aurora's body, scanning her. Aeris's closed eyes read the girl like a book, delving deep into her past, gleaning the knowledge from her bones. What she was looking for ...ah! Glowing deep inside her, responding eagerly to Aeris's spell, was the proof she sought.
Her eyes opened. She gasped. "It is true," she said softly.
Aurora opened eyes she had not realized were closed. "What?" she whispered.
"You," Aeris breathed, "are the last living creature on this earth with the blood of the Cetra in your veins and soul."
Aurora, through all her fear, cocked her head. "Yes," she said simply.
Aeris smiled, though in the smile was hesitancy. "You know this to be true?" she asked. Aurora nodded, a little of the fear gone from her eyes. Aeris looked at her strongly, sparks of green magic flickering in her eyes. "I had feared all was lost. There is a great task ahead of you, Aurora, and you are the only one capable of carrying these gifts. Do you understand me?" Aurora looked a little lost and confused, but slowly nodded. "Then," Aeris said, gathering the strength and magic around her into her graceful hands. "I need you, Aurora. As does the Planet."
She stood before Aurora, suddenly glowing with all the strength and magic of the Lifestream, radiance pouring from her slender form. "Be my avatar," she whispered. "Be a talisman for the Ancients." Her shimmering hand graced the girl's forehead and they were both surrounded by glowing swirls of Lifestream. "Into your blood I pour all the knowledge and power of the Cetra. You are our living, breathing symbol, and your children will bear the full birthright of the Ancient race." She summoned into one palm a great, shining light, burning with bright intensity. "I give you my greatest gift," she said softly, and placed it on Aurora's forehead.
A whirlwind of light and sound surrounded her; she dropped to her knees again. The form of Aeris flickered behind her, seeming to whisper words. Aurora swayed once, and fell to the ground, unconscious. As she hit the ground, the key fell from her hand. The light died; the waterfall vanished. All was silent.
No one moved. In that last instant, Aeris had surrounded them in her love and whispered words to each of them. They were all caught in shock, both from the light and magic and from Aeris's messages. Tears poured down Tifa's face as she sobbed into her hands; Yuffie was still shaking. Barrett's face had paled, and Cid looked somber. Even Red stared at the ground, pensive in thought. A small movement caught their eyes - something shifted on the platform, groaned.
Aurora slowly lifted herself to her knees. Her black hair, once chopped so raggedly about her pale face, had grown in one giant burst and now swung past her shoulders like silk. She turned her face and opened her eyes. Cloud gasped. Instead of being golden and otherworldly, they were green. Like the Lifestream. Like Aeris's eyes.
Red quickly moved to support the wavering form. The girl's face was dazed, as if she had just woken up from some long stretch of sleep. Her movements were slow and fluid-like, almost childish, as Vincent helped her stand. The look on her face was empty and full of wonderment. They stared at her in bewilderment, still shocked.
Cloud finally approached her. Vincent had dropped his arm and she stood, slightly crooked, as if a slight wind would knock her over. "Aurora?" he asked tentatively.
There was a brief struggle on her face, then the answer came: "Yes." As if she had forgotten her existence.
Cloud shrugged. What to do with her now?