I do not own Final Fantasy VII.

Change of Heart

Chapter XXI: Nothing But a Reflection

No one, not even the children, found it necessary to rest for the night. Everyone had slept the day away on the ship, and they were content to continue onward toward the Crystal Cave. Going on foot was easy enough, though the journey would end up being much longer than Sephiroth would've pleased. There was a consensus to rent some chocobos from the stables in Costa Del Sol, an arrangement that everyone found most fitting. There would be three birds for their party, Vincent would ride one, while Tifa and Marlene would pair up on the second, and then Sephiroth and Denzel would share the third.

"How long is the ride?" Sephiroth called out to Vincent as the sun slowly began to set behind the mountains.

"It will only be a few hours by chocobo, it would be another whole day if we walked." Vincent explained.

As the giant golden birds pranced across the mountainous terrain, Sephiroth happened to look over Tifa. She looked lovely as her long dark hair flew out behind her. She was slightly silhouetted by the sunset and the glow of the sun shined around her, making her appear no less than angelic. He watched as her chocobo swerved in front of him and he received a grand view of her backside. Her body swayed with the movement of the bird and while slightly comical, it was also very sexy. It was then that he was glad Denzel was riding behind him.

The night descended quickly, but the moonlight was so bright it lit up their path. Sephiroth was surprised that no one had wanted to stop yet, and he was quite pleased for it. He could feel the knot forming in his stomach and he feared it would make him ill. But he dared not steer his mount off the path; he pressed onward the thought of finally seeing his mother strengthening him all the more.

It was almost a shock when Vincent suddenly slowed down. He'd been in the lead and was passed by Tifa when he'd stopped. She was fast to turn around and ride back to where he'd come to rest. Sephiroth had almost run past but he was quicker to pull back on the reigns.

"The cave is just ahead." Vincent said to their inquiring faces. "I'm sorry to stop, but…It has been a while since I've been here. Come on." He continued ahead much slower, as if savoring the anticipation.

It wasn't long before they reached the waterfall, only a few yards from where they'd stopped. They could hear the rushing of the water from that point, and it mixed with the sound of the blood pulsing in Sephiroth's ears as they drew ever closer.

Sephiroth felt obliged to continue slowly, though wished to race on a head. Tifa peered over and gazed upon him, noticing the worry that misted his face. His eyes were dark though were soft and he appeared as though he were about to pass out.

They reached a circular clearing; where a beautiful lake took up most of the area, save for a narrow path that wrapped around the edge of the water. The waterfall stood majestically in the center of the rocky wall that surrounded the clearing.

Vincent dismounted and the rest followed suit. They tied off the birds on some strong tree roots that jutted out from the rocks. They continued on into the cave, barely escaping getting drenched by the waterfall. The children clung to them so as not to risk slipping, though due to their added weight, the adults feared they may just fall down. There was not a single word spoken between them, there was too much tension, too much fear, and too much excitement enflaming all their stomachs it was too difficult to press down. Sephiroth especially was feeling the butterflies, and he fell them shoot up into his throat, only to strike his heart and be forced back down as he came to stand before a great crystalline pillar.

There was an ethereal beauty to this magnificent structure, regardless of whether natural or manmade. Sephiroth was astonished at the glowing light that it emitted and he was inclined to inch further. Denzel had been holding his hand, but paused mid step, causing Sephiroth to reel back, though only slightly. He turned a curious gaze to the boy who in turn looked frightened. Tifa noticed and reached out to put her arm around him, coaxing him to her side and to let go of Sephiroth.

Vincent remained silent as well, not draw near the crystal coffin as he wanted Sephiroth to not feel rushed. He wished him to take his own time in approaching and nodded when he looked at him with wide eyes, as if seeking his approval.

Sephiroth could see the shadow of someone encased in the crystal, it appeared to be hovering within its glittering confinement, though he was sure the body was standing upon a hard surface. As he stepped up to it, his face nearly pressed to the side, he saw her, a woman sleeping within. She was just as beautiful as Vincent had described and appeared quite young, as too had mentioned. She had long brown hair tied up in a golden scarf and was clad in a silken white gown, her hands crossed delicately over her chest. She looked like an angel that had been frozen in time, perfectly preserved just for him to see. He thought this was it,that he'd only see her and it would be done. But what happened next was beyond anything he'd ever hoped.

"…Sephiroth…" The voice was that of a woman, and was ever so soft. Initially, Sephiroth had thought that Tifa had called out to him, but as he responded her, she only shrugged. The voice continued, "…Sephiroth…I've been dreaming of you lately…I always hoped one day this moment would come."

At that moment, it was clear the voice was not Tifa's. It was different, deeper, and more mature. He tossed his attention back to Lucretia.

"Mother? Is that you?" He whispered back, only loud enough for himself to hear. But somehow she'd heared.

"My son…I've been waiting…" The voice was undoubtedly hers.

"Mother…" He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to hold back the tears that suddenly invaded his eyes, "…I've been searching for you for so long."

"Now you've found me."

"But what should I do now?"

"You should live the life you've been given."

"I cannot take you home with me…can I?"

"You cannot. I am bound to this place. I am merely a reflection of what once was."

"So this is it then? I've come all this way to see you and I can't even touch you?" He pressed his hand to the crystal, wishing to somehow breakthrough it and set her free. But, was there even really a physical body in there he can release, or if he should shatter it, would she simply disappear? As he dropped his head in grief, he suddenly remembered the one question he needed an answer to. "Mother…Vincent told me everything about the circumstances leading to my birth…but there was one question he could not answer…Do you love me?"

"Sephiroth…my son…" If a sleeping memory could cry, she would have, "…I have made some terrible choices in the past, I've wronged you in a way that no mother should ever wrong her child…while it might have been so cruel to do what I've done…" She fell silent, as if trying to contain her own emotions, and Sephiroth could have sword he'd seen tears rush from her closed eyes, "…I have always loved you. I love you more than my own life. If I could do it again I'd rather die than to let that monster touch you. You're my son, my only son…"

Sephiroth felt as though his heart was being squeezed inside of his chest and this throat in turn felt tight and he fought to keep from breaking down. "M-mother, I want you to come home with me. I need you."

"I will always here for you whenever you're in need of me."

"That's not enough!" He banged on the crystal. Vincent inched toward him ready to pounce upon him. Tifa almost jumped out of her skin, feeling the children draw closer to her; it was then she almost wished she'd left them at home.

"Sephiroth…I'm so sorry…"

Vincent almost lost it at that. He too had been watching wordlessly, feeling his own emotions bubble up inside of him. She'd said that before, saying she was sorry when she felt there was nothing more she could possibly say. At that moment, he too wanted to break the crystal open and take her away with him. But he restrained himself, just as Sephiroth did, for fear she would disappear.

Sephiroth sunk down to his knees before her, "Please…what can I do? I've needed you since before I can even remember. Ever since I was a boy…All I ever wanted was my mother."

When she said nothing, Sephiroth stood and took one more last look at her face. He took in every single feature, trying his best to commit her to memory, hoping that once he left here, he'd never feel the need to seek her out again. After an eternity of gazing at her, he turned away and slowly began to step down from the crystal tomb. He made eye contact with Tifa, whose own eyes were reddened and brimmed with tears. He wondered what she was thinking at that moment. Was she about to cry him, or was she possibly thinking of her own father whom she'd never see again. He felt very selfish in that instant, knowing that at least he got a chance to see his mother, whilst Tifa would never again see her father or even hear his voice except in her dreams and her memories. But even with this new thought, Sephiroth couldn't shake that fact that he didn't have something that Tifa did. He never experienced a joyful childhood, he never knew the love of his parents, and lived a happy life with what time he would've had. Instead he was more or less an orphan, kept in a lab and experimented on for the sick pleasures of his repulsive detestable…he couldn't even fathom calling that thing his father. He couldn't even grasp how his beautiful, loving mother could've ever willingly been with that loathsome slime of a man. Perhaps she never did go willingly, and a thought like that sickened him all the more.

Suddenly, he stopped midway from his friends and felt a massive surge of energy rip through him. Rage, despair, and agony rushed madly through his veins and he suddenly pivoted on his heal, rushing toward the crystal and ramming his fist straight through it. It happened so fast, not even Vincent was fast enough to stop him.

There was a flash of light so bright it rivaled the sun. Tifa reflexively leapt before the children and brought them close to her bosom so that she might absorb whatever blast expelled over them. Vincent had also attempted to shield the three of them from it, kneeling down over Tifa and tossing his cape around her. Shards of crystal and unremarkable stone rained down around them, striking the columns and stalagmites. Thankfully, no stalactites fell from above, though they did threaten to do so.

The entire event felt like an eternity, though in fact only last several seconds. The cave suddenly went dark, not even the crystals glowed any longer. A single shred of moonlight seeped in from a fissure above, but other than that it was black. There was very little anyone could see at that moment, nor was there any sound, save for heavy labored breaths, and Sephiroth's sobs of anguish.

I could have made it longer, but I wanted to leave it a cliff hanger.