Chapter 20
"The fruit of life is the key to the world..."
As Sephiroth began filling everyone in on everything, a tired Vincent walked in , carrying an asleep Angel. "Morning everyone," Vincent said tiredly. Everyone looked at Vincent then at Angel. "What happened to you?" Yuffie asked. "Angel finally went back to sleep after her nightmare," Vincent said sadly. Sephiroth looked at Vincent then at Angel and sighed. Genesis walked in and waved at everyone. "Hey Genesis when did you get Deep ground plans?" TIfa asked. Genesis looked at her in confusion and said, "I never got the plans. Angel blew Simone and my cover along with Vincent last night so I was never able to get the plans," Genesis explained. "I left when Angel told me to. She was looking at the deep ground lair too," Vincent said as he looked down at his sleeping girlfriend. A few hours late after everyone ate the breakfast TIfa cooked, Simone walked in wincing. "Simone you shouldn't be moving," Aeris said worriedly. "I'll be fine Aeris," Simone said with a small smile. Simone glared at Vincent who glared back then looked down worriedly at Angel.
Simone looked at her sister and gasped in shock. Angel looked really pale and she had dry tear streaks on her face. Simone ran over to Vincent and picked her sister out of his arms. "Sister are you ok?" Simone asked softly. Angel opened her tired eyes and looked at her sister with bloodshot eyes. "I'm fine sister," Angel said weakly. Sephiroth looked at the two sisters and sighed. "She had a nightmare thinking she was a monster and I showed her what a monster is truly like," Sephiroth said and looked away. Everyone stated at him in shock until Angel weakly got out of her sister's arms and walked over to Sephiroth. "You're not a monster...you were forced into being one...a true monster is one who has the desire to kill even around loved ones..." Angel stated. Everyone looked at her worriedly and Angel looked at them with sadness and turmoil in her eyes.
"When Simone and Genesis left, I told VIncent to leave on a motorcycle I had created with my magic and once he was out of view. I ran into the lair and took every document and saw something that I wished I didn't. I looked into the file that had my name and saw what they planned to do with me. The only one who can make Jenova and Omega do evil things is the one girl who has the magic of the lifestream. I grabbed everything and came back here. I placed the stuff in front of the room so Genesis can see what he missed and I went to Vincent's and my room. When we went to sleep, my nightmare showed me everyone dead and I saw blood on my hands and I...liked it...but also denied doing it and hated it...hated who I am...I'm who Weiss and Nero want...they want my sister because they need her blood for the portal to open but they need me to make it all come true. I'm a monster because of this," Angel said sadly.
Everyone stared at her then looked at one another as Simone walked to her sister. Simone wince but placed her hand on Angel. "I'm still mad at you. But you need to stop believing your dreams. Visions are my thing. I copyright that." She made her sister smile.
"This puts me in danger too," Aeris added thoughtfully. "I am half Cetra. Our job was to care for the planet and the life stream...All of my magic is from the life stream...That would mean that you were given the abilities of a Cetra. All because Omega was born of the life stream." Aeris thought aloud. She looked at the ground. "Yet again. I will just get in the way. Again."
"I feel the same way," Simone muttered. She sat down at the edge of the chair to avoid hurting her back. Sephiroth looked around the room.
"As far as I can see," he paused. "They still need someone with the magic of the life stream. So it is either Aeris or Angel are needed for the magic. And Simone for a sacrifice." Sephiroth took a breath. "They have no one as of yet."
"Then we have nothing to worry about," Genesis pulled out his copy of LOVELESS.
"As for now," Cloud added
"We need to stay on our toes," Angeal added.
"I can't wait till I can land a punch into Weiss or Nero's skull," Tifa said angrily. "No one should be allowed to do that to children." She had left Denzel and Marlene with Barret. He had to leave them with Elymra, Aeris's adoptive mother, temporarily so that the ship can be repaired.
"On another note the ship is in top shape. We are ready to move anytime you want leader," Cid stated proudly.
"Good," Cloud said. "We need a new destination."
"How about the Northern Crater. It is the closest place to the lifestream," Tifa suggested.
"Sister…I know your back is hurting you…I saw you being whipped and beaten," Angel said sadly.
Angel placed her hands on her sister's back and her hands began to glow blue. Angel began to heal her sister's wounds and Simone stared at her sister. "I know a place really close to the life stream. I saw it in my dream when I saw our parents were alive. It was forest far from deep ground. It's called the forest of the life stream and it is probably a good place to go but we can go to your destination instead. Sister I know there will be time before you can forgive me for what I did but you have to realize you can't do something stupid to get yourself killed even if it's to protect me…we came here to be protected…if you had continued your plan not only would our effort to leave be in vain but so would asking these people to help us in the first place," Angel said. Simone stared at everyone and everyone nodded at her.
"Our mission would have been useless if we didn't have both of you girls," Red said calmly.
"Their plan would have already began," Cloud said.
"You can't make these decisions to protect your sister on your own," Angeal said.
"We're all together because you both gave us a purpose," Zack said.
"We will protect the children of the life stream and that means both of you," Genesis said.
"That is the mission you two gave us," Tifa said.
"You are important to us just like your sister Simone," Yuffie said.
"You and your sister both experienced something painful and it would be a shame if you two separated," Cid said.
"In a way we are all a family," Sephiroth said calmly.
"And we will defeat deep ground with you two at our side," Vincent declared.
Simone looked around at everyone as tears formed in her eyes and fell down slowly.
"Sister…you're the only family I have right now until we are reunited with mom and dad…don't leave me behind anymore…let me feel the same pain as you…the one we both had to experience at deep ground….I don't want you to continue protecting me if I can't protect you too," Angel said softly, finishing healing her sister's back. "Before…I always believed that I was the only one my sister needed but now I see….I needed someone too," Simone said as she looked at Genesis. "We both have someone to love and who love us as well sister…let's not let it go since we have found it at last….the need to belong and be loved…" Angel said softly.
Vincent walked over and picked Angel up. Angel hugged Vincent happily and he hugged her back. Genesis walked over to Simone and pressed their lips together, deepening the kiss. Simone returned the kiss, as Angel smiled in happiness. Everyone else smiled happily at the newly made couple and thought, "You are both loved…by all of us."
"So…that forest would have been found by ShinRa long ago," Zack sighed and leaned back.
"Yeah they would have found it by now if you think about it," Yuffie cut in. "Back when ShinRa was looking for the Promised Land…They searched for mako…and a healthy source of mako comes from the life stream. It would have been the perfect place for them to harvest it…The Northern Crater is only accessible by ship. It also would make it hard to track since it is at the magnetic pole," she turned and saw everyone's gaze. "Look even I can become eighteen," she pouted.
"I agree that the Northern Crater would be better," Simone cut in. She rolled her still painful back. She hissed in pain. The cuts were only freshly closed and the skin stretched painfully.
"There is a problem with it," Tifa added. "It is full of the strongest monsters and so many can travel in one place at once."
"Then we will separate into groups. The twins cannot be in the same group. This cave will have fearsome creatures. For example, there are some very impressive dragons there. We need to plan this carefully," Cloud stated. "Instead of our normal three we will go in groups of four. Form your groups." Cloud sighed and asked Tifa, Zack, and Cid to be in his group. Vincent, Angel, Yuffie and Red made their group. That left Simone, Genesis, Sephiroth and Aeris to their own group. "Good. That settles things for our departure."
"About two days to till we hit that fucking ice mountain again," Cid said.
"It's an ice island. What do you expect," added Red. Cait entered the room. He had to charge as Cloud was using him as a spy on some of the newer members.
"You say that cause you have fur," exclaimed Yuffie.
"Shut your mouth lassy," Cait scolded.
"You can't even feel the cold from your office chair Reeve," she accused.
"Enough," Vincent said. He hid his amusement in his cape. "We have to be prepared."
"Yeah, yeah whatever vampire." Vincent just shrugged and hugged Angel tightly. Simone giggled.
"Do you sparkle," Simone asked seriously. Zack and Yuffie fell to the ground in laugher. Vincent glared at Simone in distain. She returned the look.
"Enough sister…" Angel said.
"Come on I'm serious," Simone whined.
"No I don't sparkle alright," Vincent answered.
Everyone laughed at Angel and Vincent's annoyed look and Simone smirked.
"Come on sister it was just a joke," Simone said.
"A bad one," Angel said.
"Oh boy…" Red said.
Angel suddenly looked at them and smiled.
"A place full of dragons maybe that's where our demon dragon friend is from," Angel thought to herself.
"I am little one," the dragon said in Angel's mind.
"We're going near the demon dragon's home land!" Angel yelled happily.
Everyone stared at her in shock and looked at Simone.
"Is she always like this?" Cid asked.
"I think so," Simone said uncertain.
"She's so cute," Yuffie said.
"What did you say you brat?" Angel said to Yuffie.
"Hey I'm not a brat," Yuffie said.
"Oh that's right you're more of a child than I am," Angel said smugly.
Yuffie and Angel began arguing and everyone watched in mild amusement. Red sighed and shook his head as the girls started calling each other names.
"Brat," Angel said.
"Nuissance," Yuffie said.
"Materia hogging child."
"Lonely Vampire."
"At least this vampire has a boyfriend."
"You did not just go there."
"Yes I did," Angel said smugly.
Everyone sighed at the childish behavior and looked at Vincent. Vincent started throwing Angel up into the air and catching her in his arms. Angel began giggling with excitement and Vincent smiled. The ship ride to their destination began to go peacefully.
"Sister your not a vampire….just a hyper brat," Simone said. The chaos ensued once again.