This chapter is a little mixed up (I couldn't really make a clear focus on it, sorry) but it covers Cissnei (Marciena), who is the same Marciena from way back in chapter two. This is hopefully going to explain a little bit. And if you're still in the dark, I'll be putting up another chapter like this with more explaination later on. Also, this is a flame chapter. I'm sure that you all are going to find it weird and AU, but whatever. It has to be this way for the story! Please R&R! (Also, forgive me for the chappie being so short, and for all the typos. I wrote this at, like, two in the morning.)
Haven't done a disclaimer for a while now. Guess I don't care, seeing as how Kuja and Zack (along with all of those other guys) will never be mine.
Chapter 12- In Memoriam, My Dear Marciena
Bran Bal: the day of the 52nd anniversary of Lord Einoriz, the noble King of Terra's crowning into royalty.
Subsequently the date was known as they day Marciena Gainsborough lost her niece into Gaea.
"Sh-she was just there!" Marciena cried. "Aerith was just there!"
Heren tried in vain to calm the woman. That child was of her late sister's, their adoptive daughter since her father, too, had been lost to that dreaded war. It had been so sudden- no one had even a thought of war in such a time of peace.
King Einoriz, an ancient in his late years, had brought war with him upon his return to Terra from Gaea. Waging war by himself and his entire court, save the Gainsboroughs', Einoriz had decimated almost all of Terra with a strange power he had learned of.
Judging by the King's erratic behavior and violent outset, Heren had named the power "Trance" and had had it removed from all records- books, data projectors, and every other means of knowledge.
Since the King had disappeared shortly after the war's end, Heren had been unanimously appointed King. Marciena, however, left before her crowning as Queen.
"I've got to find her," Marciena explained. "I have to find Aerith."
Heren frowned. She could be so stubborn! "But… you can't very well go around saying you are Marciena Gainsborough. You know how unreliable those portals are- you could end up in the timeline when Einoriz was in Gaea. What if someone recognizes you? We have no idea if Einoriz has told anyone about Terra- about us. You've got to take care down there."
She gave him a soft grin. "Of course I'll stay safe. I'll take my chakrams, change my name, and give myself a new appearance. Shouldn't be too hard with a bit of materia as an extra boost to my magic."
"But-"
Marciena put a finger to his lips. "I promise, I'll come back in one piece, with Aerith, too. Wait for me?"
He eventually gave in with a miserable nod.
((((()))))
(Zack Fair looks just like Heren. Almost acts the same too. Why… why do I feel like he's all of him I'm going to see again?)
((((()))))
Marciena was finally accepted into a line of elite protectors called the Turks, who worked for Shin-Ra power company. Although the stench of mako nearly made her gag sometimes during work, she never once complained during her search for Aerith.
…Who was, apparently, nearly a woman on this world already. Heren had been wrong- time does not go backwards when one goes through a portal, it goes forward in time. Zack Fair, the SOLDIER who so reminded her of Heren, was infatuated with her niece.
In other words, there just went the hope of getting Aerith out quickly. Marciena couldn't just steal Aerith away from the love of her life, could she? No, she'd stay until things eventually tore them apart.
"Things" like herself.
Most people would say it was wrong and cruel to flirt around one's niece's lover. Marciena, however, liked to call this a "safe distraction" to give her niece time to realize that Zack Fair was just a stupid boy too good to be true. He was too impatient, she learned after a few missions, and had such high hopes of becoming a hero. What he didn't know was that all of the other SOLDIER first-classes were far from being heroes. With the exception of Angeal, both Sephiroth and Genesis were just monsters in disguise- and not for the reasons those on this world believed.
Both had that god-complex- and everyone knew that wasn't a good start for a villain with power. Even with "good intentions", which she couldn't help but admit they both once had them, there was too much evil in their hearts.
What truly shocked her the most was finding Genesis Rhapsodos with such a humbled attitude in Banora just a few weeks after catching sight of him in Gongaga with Zack.
In Gongaga, where she had openly admitted to Zack that "Cissnei" was not her name.
It was hard to understand why, but she couldn't help but learn to like him a little after spending so much time with him and his family.
But it was impossible to know why she'd go to such ends as to lie to Tseng, her superior, and tell him that she had lost sight of him back in Nibelheim.
He and his friend, Cloud Strife, had been victims of mako experimentation- something that Einoriz brought about. It was his fault that all of this had happened. Why Shin-Ra was increasing usage of the life stream in such quantities it was now damaging the planet. Why Aerith was constantly under watch because she was an Ancient, just like Einoriz and herself.
What would Tseng think if she told him how she too was an Ancient from Terra? Would he turn her in to Hojo? Or would he protect her, just as she was protecting Zack and Cloud?
She was afraid of what would be said, so she thought it best to keep quiet.
Days went by, Genesis disappeared, and "Cissnei" was moving farther and farther from Shin-Ra and the Turks, siding with Zack and his struggle for freedom.
Hadn't she herself told him that wings had symbolized freedom? Maybe that was why she couldn't help but see a flicker of hope in his bright mako eyes whenever he looked up to the sky, so blue that it reminded her of Terra, the home she missed so much.
"Find him, Cissnei. I have letters to give him. Eighty-eight of them."
She turned and give Tseng a faint smile, knowing very that Zack would not be able to survive an onslaught of Shin-Ra operatives, no matter how fearsome and determined he is. "I will," Marciena lied. "I still haven't told him… my real name."
Honestly, she could have burst out laughing at the expression on his face, but the situation was just too grim.
What really surprised her was the tears that came as she flew to the site- a cliff overlooking Midgar. She knew that she was forever indebted to Reno- the Turk who simply would not shut up long enough for her to get in a proper sob. He, Rude, and Tseng, who had decided to also head to the scene with or without permission, were all her support.
But the support did little of its job when she arrived. Tseng held her back as she tried to desperately reach the boy- just a boy, too young to die.
"As your commanding officer, I order you not to die before me!" Tseng bellowed, the only part of his rant Marciena actually bothered to listen to.
She soberly rose from Zack's side, legs shaking and eyes swimming with tears. This wasn't just for Zack Fair- it was going to be Aerith, too. Aerith, who didn't know "Cissnei", the Turk, was her aunt. Didn't know Zack was dead. She didn't know that she was from Terra, or that her uncle Heren would now be at a loss from his wife and niece forever.
"My name is Marciena," she softly spoke, right as the first infantryman shot her. The blow brought upon more pain than she had ever felt before, but it all seemed numbed now.
To the Turks, she thanked them for all being with her- Tseng, Reno, and Rude especially.
To her homeland of Terra, she apologized for never properly saying goodbye.
To Aerith, she silently asked for forgiveness for ever trying to keep Zack away from her.
To Zack, she wished that he had wings now, wherever he was.
And finally, to Heren, she softly whispered, I love you.
((((()))))
"Dearest Marciena Gainsborough," he murmured softly. "It is time for you to wake."
