Pawns of Prophecy
By turtlerad17
Disclaimer- I don't own FF7.
Epilogue- Wedding Crashers
Emerald fire and silver wind met somewhere over the Gaia icefields on the Northern Continent. The two elemental forces did not clash like one might have expected, but instead merged to form a glowing cloud of molten, pale-green energy. The cloud drew into itself, pulsed once, twice, then exploded outwards in a ring that flew across the frozen landscape. The thick, mist-like dark energy that covered the sky across the entire planet dissolved and dissipated into nothing as it came into contact with the expanding white-green energy ring.
The Children of the Stars were swept up into the mass of purifying energy, their physical bodies reverting to the free-energy state that was their natural forms. Rapture and ecstasy rippled across the soulbond shared by Aeris and Sephiroth, both reveling in the absolute freedom that they experienced in their natural state.
The music of the stars beckoned, but the song of the planet overpowered it by sheer proximity. Their astral senses were enhanced far beyond what they had ever experienced. The planet's song along with the roaring, pulsing beat of the combined energy from Sephiroth and Aeris created an intoxicating and feverish symphony that resonated and was absorbed into their souls.
Their life essences were intimately intertwined, not having separated completely into their individual personalities after the Radiant One reverted back into the Children of the Stars. Consequently the feelings experienced by one were felt exceptionally strongly by the other, the echoes enhancing the emotions that the original had felt. The last time they had been so deeply joined, but not to the point of becoming the Radiant One, had been back on their home world when they had fed all of their life energies, their souls even, into the desperate summoning of Holy to save their planet from Jenova and Meteor.
The fear and anxiety that had gripped the human population on this planet lifted as the skies cleared. The hauntingly familiar white-green energy that stretched across the sky reminded the people of a similar event two years prior when Holy and the Lifestream had joined to destroy Meteor. No one, except for the few individuals that kept in contact with AVALANCHE, had any idea at what had caused the darkness that enveloped the planet. But one thing that they did know, as the white-green energy faded away overhead, was that they had been saved by the defenders of the planet once again.
Back on the Highwind, the members of AVAVLANCHE, despite their earlier short impromptu celebration, were too physically and emotionally exhausted to do anything other else than seek their beds, their minds clouded with a grey haze of weariness. The implications of what Aeris and Sephiroth had done had yet to sink in, but when they did, a lot of answered questions came up in the minds of the planet's defenders.
A week went by as AVALANCHE recuperated from the battle on the Northern Continent. No sign of either of the Children of the Stars had been found, it was if they had vanished into thin air. The members of AVALANCHE eventually came to the conclusion that if they had survived, Sephiroth and Aeris had in all likelihood left the planet already as soon as the task that they had been brought here for was completed.
With the gloomy atmosphere that had hung over AVALANCHE now gone, everyone slowly started resuming their normal lives. After a week, Cloud and Tifa dived headfirst into planning their wedding, dragging Yuffie, and by extension Vincent, into the process as well. When Elymara finally got the news about the impending wedding, she came charging in and more or less took charge of the entire process, removing Yuffie and Vincent from the equation entirely (much to the ex-Turk's noticeable relief).
The weeks flew by and before they knew it, the big AVALANCHE wedding was only a week away. Barret, Cid and Cait Sith had sprung a surprise bachelor's party on Cloud the previous night, having been planning it behind his back ever since the end of the final battle. Vincent while present, had refused to have any part in planning for the party, having suffered enough from being involuntarily involved with planning the wedding.
The only reason why Vincent was at the party at all was because Cid had threatened to lock the gunman in a room with Tifa and Elymara when they were going over wedding catalogues. So while Vincent grudgingly attended Cloud's bachelor party, hanging out in one of the dark corners of Tifa's bar, he had fallen asleep by the time the "entertainment" had arrived.
Unfortunately the groom-to-be had passed out from the binge drinking the others had cajoled him into participating in, so he had missed the entertainment as well.
Cid and Barret were too busy drooling over the strippers that they had hired to notice that their companions were oblivious to the world, only discovering the fact after the girls had departed much richer than when they had arrived.
Meanwhile, Aeris and Sephiroth were celebrating their victory in their newly reformed physical bodies, causing quite a lot of noise in the empty cabin deep in the mountains surrounding Midgar that they were staying in.
One week ago, six weeks after the Radiant One had released its power against the Calamity from the Sky, the Children of the Stars woke up in the very same crater that AVALANCHE had found them not far from the Chocobo Farm. It had taken them that long to regain the energy that was depleted from releasing their most powerful attacks. Once they finally recovered enough strength, their life essences had resolidified into the bodies that the planet had forced them into.
Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Aeris and Sephiroth seized the opportunity to enjoy the pleasures that one could enjoy in a flesh and blood form. They had spent the whole week re-exploring each other. To their delight, they had found that their current forms were almost identical to the ones that they had been born in back on their home world. Of course, there was the notable exception of their wings (and boy did having wings open up many new possibilities when it came to making love).
When they finally got the news of the big celebrity wedding of Cloud and Tifa that was going to take place in Cosmo Canyon, Sephiroth and Aeris figured that the honeymoon was over and it was time to return to real life.
Aeris remembered the promised that she and Sephiroth had made the same night that Tifa and Cloud had announced their engagement. To get married was of the most precious dreams that she had had since she was a child. How overjoyed she had been when Sephiroth had made her that promise back in Cosmo Canyon.
What Aeris never suspected was that Sephiroth intended to fulfill that promise before they left this planet. Especially since he knew that she would never approve the manner in which he planned to do so. So totally unaware of what her lover was up to, Sephiroth and Aeris traveled from their retreat in the Midgar Mountains, crossed over the ocean to the Western Continent and then the continent itself to get to Cosmo canyon. Exhausted and with wind tossed hair, they arrived unnoticed at Cosmo Canyon the night before the big event and settled down on the roof of the Observatory for the night.
"I'm hearing the music of the stars more and more clearly," Aeris murmured, "it's becoming almost painful to remain on this planet."
"Our souls are wishing to return to our natural, free-energy state," Sephiroth replied, "this planet's hold on us weakens by the hour. It cannot keep exerting energy to keep us on its surface, especially as it is still recovering from the multiple attacks made by Shin-Ra and Jenova for the last few decades."
"I just hope that we get the chance to say good-bye to our friends before we have to leave," Aeris sighed.
"So that's what you're calling those creatures now?" Sephiroth playfully teased.
"Seph!" Aeris exclaimed, poking him in the ribs.
Sephiroth automatically jerked away from the offending digit but continued on with his train of thought.
"There is no need to fret angel," he purred, with a small, secretive smile, "I have a feeling that we will get the chance to do that and more."
"What are you up to now?" Aeris suspiciously demanded, a worrisome (to Sephiroth) gleam coming into her eyes.
"What makes you think that I'm up to something?" he innocently, too-innocently, asked.
Aeris snorted and sent a pulse of her irritation and disbelief across their soul bond to Sephiroth.
"I love you too angel," Sephiroth teased as he kissed the top of her head.
The passionate former Cetra was still in Sephiroth's arms. He just hoped that he could successfully distract her from pursuing the topic.
Lady Luck was not on the silver-haired man's side that night.
Just as Sephiroth was wondering if she had fallen asleep, Aeris turned around and gazed at him with huge, dewy, doe-like eyes. Sephiroth gulped, he knew that he was in trouble now.
"Sephy-bear," he cringed at the name, "are you sure that that there is nothing that I should know about, something about tomorrow?" now she was drawing circles on his chest with her finger, "Because I would absolutely hate it," her lower lip stuck out in an adorable pout, "if there was something that I would be unhappy with you about."
Aeris was sending Sephiroth on a major guilt trip and was quite aware that he knew that she was manipulating him. And dammed if that pout didn't get even cuter or those eyes of hers get even bigger, rounder and more expectant. Sephiroth sighed in defeat, he knew that she would only get worse until he finally caved.
"I swear that you are evil incarnate at times," Sephiroth grumbled, "where in the world did you learn to do that?"
"Do what?" Aeris sweetly asked, fluttering her eye lashes ever-so-slightly, "you're sure that there isn't anything that I should know about…"
Abruptly Aeris dropped the cute act as a determined look came over her face.
"…or do you want to sleep alone tonight?" she finished.
"You wouldn't," Sephiroth pleaded.
"Hmmm…maybe," Aeris responded, twirling a lock of hair around her fingers, "that is if you don't tell me about the little scheme that is bouncing around in your pretty little head."
"All that I was 'scheming' as you put it, was to get us married, no more, no less," Sephiroth pouted.
Aeris squealed and bounced up and down.
Then a thought flashed across her mind and she suddenly stilled.
"You better not be thinking about doing what I think you're thinking," Aeris threatened.
"So what do you think I'm thinking?" Sephiroth retorted.
Aeris groaned, exasperated at the stupid word game that she had inadvertently started.
"First, I think that if you continue being deliberately obtuse then Little Sephy will be very lonely tonight," Aeris ground out, " and second, if you think that I will go along with your little plan to crash Cloud and Tifa's wedding, then think again."
"We'll see," Sephiroth idly mused, "we'll see."
"Sephiroth!" Aeris screamed in frustration.
Sephiroth winced at her high-pitched voice.
"Have I ever told you that you're cute when you're angry?" he cheekily asked.
"Don't try changing the subject on me!" Aeris fumed.
"Too cute," Sephiroth teased.
"Goodnight Sephiroth," Aeris announced as she turned on her side, facing away from him.
He waited a few moments and pretty soon Aeris' breathing was calm and even.
"Goodnight angel," Sephiroth whispered as he pulled her dozing body to his, both of them automatically settling into a spooning position.
Tomorrow is going to be an important day in more ways than one, Sephiroth thought as he drifted off to sleep.
The next day dawned clear and bright, with just a hint of chill to the air. It was going to be a lovely autumn day, the heat of summer finally breaking two days ago finally giving in to the invigorating crispness of fall. Down below, the inhabitants of Cosmo Canyon were consumed with last-minute wedding details. They had less than two hours to get everything perfect before the bride made her big debut.
Aeris watched the frantic activities going on below with amusement. Whenever the wedding coordinator dashed across the across the courtyard, guests and hired help alike scattered, not wanting to get in the path of Hurricane Elymara.
A bittersweet feeling settled in her heart as Aeris watched the woman who was the carbon copy of her former teacher/mother figure. The Elymara from Aeris' planet was nothing more than a distant memory, the woman's spirit having returned to the Lifestream eons ago. Seeing this energetic woman with the same name and face as her old mentor filled Aeris with such longing and nostalgia for her home world and her old life back in Rose Valley that it almost hurt. The fact that she couldn't show herself to the woman below only made the feeling more poignant.
Sephiroth heard Aeris sigh.
"Why the long face angel? Today is supposed to be a day of joy and celebration," Sephiroth gently chided her.
"Seeing Elymara down there brings back old memories," Aeris sighed, "I miss my old teacher, I miss our home world. But I just can't go down there and barge into their lives. Those people down there, they have already put this planet's Aeris to rest. It would not be fair to get involved with them, it would only break their hearts again since we will have to leave so soon."
"I can assure you that I wouldn't be breaking any hearts down there, the inhabitants of this planet have little love for the monster that bore my face and name," Sephiroth pointed out.
Down below, quite unaware of the visitors perched on the roof of the Observatory, the Turks finally cleared the last of the reporters and gawkers out of Cosmo Canyon, taking up positions at the canyon's entrance to keep the curious horde of people from seeing the private wedding.
Totally oblivious to the heated argument going on overhead, the musicians started the music that announced the bride's arrival. Tifa stepped onto the red carpet and the crowd of family and friends that had been invited to the wedding held their breath.
She was absolutely lovely, her strapless sparkling white gown hugging her form, the v-neck of her dress dipping just low enough to get a teasing hint of the ample bosom under the silk. A dazzling diamond encrusted tiara was perched on the top of her head, the gauzy veil spilling off her head and over her long chocolate brown locks, stopping short of her ankles. The bride's face was uncovered and an uncharacteristically shy look was on her face. Her seemingly fragility did nothing to mask the confidence of her steps as she made her way down the aisle, finally coming to a stop next to Cloud at the end of the red carpet.
The blonde's mouth hung open in astonishment at the vision standing next to him, he could hardly believe that in just a few short moments he would be married to this dazzling woman.
The Priestess just started the ritual words that would bind Cloud and Tifa together as husband and wife when a scream split the air.
"Sephiroth!" Aeris shrieked, "what the hell are you doing?! I'm going to kill you when this is over!!!"
Then to the awe and mystification of the audience gathered, a pair of angels settled next to Cloud and Tifa in a flurry of silk and feathers. Everyone just stared in shock at the two last minute arrivals once the dust gathered. No one knew what to think about the summoner of Holy being held in the arms the madman that tried to destroy it, a ticked off expression on her face as she continued to berate him about pulling this hare-brained stunt. Of course what most of the members of the audience was unaware of that these two winged beings that were squabbling in front of them were not the Aeris and Sephiroth that they had come to know in the tale about AVALANCHE's epic battle for the planet.
No these two people were something else entirely.
Just as the audience was starting to get over their shock, a rather perky voice piped up, much to the exasperation of all who knew the voice's owner.
"Gawd! It certainly took the two of you long enough to get here. What were you waiting for, another apocalypse?" Yuffie yelled, "I mean, seriously, you two featherheads have the worst ability of keeping track of time. Not even Spike is as bad as the two of you are!"
Somehow, the young ninja's words managed to diffuse the growing tension. If one of the Saviors of the Planet was friendly towards the two unexpected guests, then they were most likely harmless (or maybe not, this is Yuffie that we're talking about after all). With a happy cry, Tifa ran over and embraced Aeris. The two women spent a few moments in a tearful, heartfelt reunion, before Tifa pulled back and got a good look at what her friends were wearing.
"Aeris, you look like you are dressed for a wedding," Tifa commented, taking in the brunette's creamy white, off-the-shoulder, Romanesque type gown.
The folds of the dress fell to the ground in shower of lightly embroidered fabric that loosely clung to her curves, perfectly embracing Aeris' slim, willowy body. The gown had a plunging backline that ended just above the small of her back to accommodate her large, white wings.
"More like dressed to be married," Sephiroth cryptically responded.
"Sephiroth," Cloud stated as he stepped up to the offworlder.
"Cloud," Sephiroth acknowledged.
"Glad that you made it," the blond gruffly admitted, clasping Sephiroth's arm in a warrior's welcome.
"What's with the get-up?" Cloud nonchalantly asked, eyeing the silver-haired man's flowing, midnight blue silk frock coat that went down to his knees.
Sephiroth's frock coat embroidered with Wutainese dragons in dark silver thread and under it Sephiroth wore a silk shirt the same color as Aeris' gown. Both the shirt and the coat had long slits in the back for his wings to go through. His shirt was tucked into midnight blue, silk pants that while loose and flowing left little to imagination they way they clung to his backside.
"I thought that I already answered that question," Sephiroth replied.
"Huh?" the bewildered blond asked.
"I think that it is sort of obvious sweetie," Tifa explained, "Sephiroth and Aeris want to get married before they have to leave, am I correct?"
Aeris shyly smiled while Sephiroth gave the wine eyed brunette one of his trademark smirks.
"First you interrupt the yearly AVALANCHE reunion, and now you are hijacking our wedding?" Cloud incredulously asked, "somehow you always know how to push things right up to the line without actually managing to cross it."
Oh big words from the chocobo head, Sephiroth relayed to Aeris.
Be nice, this is his wedding day after all, Aeris chided.
You mean our wedding day as well angel, Sephiroth corrected.
"I think that is about as close as you'll get to approval from Cloud," Tifa fondly interpreted her husband-to-be's unspoken words, "now if you two are done talking to each other mind-to-mind, I am quite impatient to finally marry my man. And I have a feeling that Aeris is thinking the same thing, so unless the priestess has any problems with a slight change in plans, I think that it is time to get this double wedding back into full swing."
Aeris shot Tifa and Cloud a brilliant smile and Sephiroth had the decency to look slightly sheepish about suddenly dropping into the wedding unannounced. The former Cetra tugged Sephiroth over so that she was standing next to Tifa with the silver haired warrior on her other side. Sephiroth rolled his eyes in exasperation but a fond smile curled at the edges of his lips. Cloud mouthed the word "whipped" to Sephiroth and the offworlder's smile turned into a full glare.
The blue robed priestess smiled in amusement at the mens' antics and started the wedding ceremony. She said the ritual blessing of happiness, love and fertility, reciting the words from memory as she drew symbols of health, harmony and love eternal on the foreheads of Aeris, Tifa, Cloud and Sephiroth using moist, rich black soil.
After each person recited their personal vows to their significant other, the priestess sprinkled a combination of dried holly, blue violets, and ivy over their bent heads. The combination of flowers and leaves representing faithfulness, friendship, good will, and foresight. The juice of juniper berries was dabbed on their lips for protection by the priestess as each person took out their wedding token to exchange with their lover, a promise to remain faithful and true. Finally, she announced that the two wedded couples were bound for life, completing the marriage ritual.
Then, before Sephiroth could seal the deal by claiming Aeris' lips with his own, the priestess handed both Children of the Stars a sliver acorn with a green cap each. A silent look of knowledge passed between the priestess and Aeris before the priestess withdrew. A bit put off by being interrupted, Sephiroth finally swooped down for the kill, hoping to make up for those lost seconds that Tifa and Cloud had taken advantage of to play tonsil hockey.
Almost three minutes passed before Cloud and Tifa abruptly broke apart, both gasping for air. Sephiroth and Aeris came up thirty seconds later, not to be outdone by the blond and his buxom new wife.
So what is the deal with the acorn? Sephiroth asked his new wife.
The acorn in Cetran culture is a symbol of life eternal, Aeris explained, I was just as surprised to receive the gift as you were. I guess that the priestess is rather perceptive of mystical forces. She probably has a better idea of what a Child of the Stars actually is than we do.
This is all very interesting love, but it is time, Sephiroth reminded her.
Aeris sighed, as I very well know love.
"I'm going to miss you all," Aeris spoke up over the din of the wedding guest offering the newlyweds congratulations and well wishes.
The members of AVALANCHE turned as one to face the two Children of the Stars.
"You're going already?" Tifa asked, stepping forward with tears in her eyes.
Cloud reached over and gently pulled her back, shaking his head. Tifa got the blonde's message and leaned up against his body.
"We have no more time on this planet, we cannot hold our physical forms any longer, it is time for us to return to our journey through space," Sephiroth explained.
"Can't you stay at least until the bouquet and the garter are tossed?" Yuffie hopefully asked.
"Sorry," Aeris sadly replied as silver motes started surrounding her, "good luck everyone with your lives."
"Aeris wait!" Tifa called.
"Isn't there anything you can do?" Cloud demanded looking at Sephiroth.
He only shook his head, his silver locks falling over his face as he embraced Aeris from behind, emerald mist staring to obscure his form. The rest of the wedding party watched in silence as the silver and emerald mists completely covered the two Children of the Stars before shrinking into themselves and shooting off into the sky in two blazing flares of light. It took the newlyweds and their wedding guests a few moments to realize that Aeris and Sephiroth were gone for good.
Yuffie promptly burst into tears and decided to use Vincent's coat as her hanky. The crimson eyed man really didn't seem to mind as he somewhat awkwardly placed an arm around her shaking shoulders (okay, he did mind, he just didn't show it). Cloud drew Tifa into a hug as both scanned the sky for any sign of their friends. A respectful silence fell amongst the members of AVALANCHE, they being the only people there that had any real clue who the two angelic beings who had just gotten married alongside Tifa and Cloud were.
Tears trailed down Tifa's face, but despite the sadness of having her friends leave, she was happy. Even if Aeris and Sephiroth's paths in life parted from theirs', everyone was finally getting their happy ending.
The End.
Gah! Yes, I know that it has been forever since I've updated. I can't help it, schoolwork is a demanding mistress as many of you know.
This marks the end of Pawns of Prophecy and closes the door on the Prophecy saga. I had fun and learned a lot as I wrote both CoP and PoP, and I will be a bit sad to finally be done with the series.
As for updating Musings of Emerald and Silver, it may be a week or more before I finally get a chance to finish Confrontation, the third and final part of the Dark City Trilogy. But I can tell you that it certainly will be worth the wait! I always get so excited when I write for the Dark City trilogy. It is a real adrenaline rush.
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