Aeris trembled since she couldn't link to Johny, confirming he was neither dead, nor alive in Gaia as she planetread
carefully, and she had gone into her garden, her floral shelves, and the outside street terraces. Aeris muttered to the
flowers, pleading for any aura detection, any astral signature, any spiritual shift that could illumate Johny's fate.
Irritable, tired, and worried out of her mind, not just for Johhny but also his compatriots, Aeris pushed her braids back
as her options were narrowed. Aeris closed her eyes as she reached into the Lifestream, her hand reaching into Ilfana's as
she prayed for guidance and comfort. Ilfana glimmered into view as she looked down at Aeris, with pity and with maternal
longing. She divined that Aeris divilged the need for unhappiness to be driven from the dire occurrences that
surrounded the Avalanche members. Ilfana watched as images ran by her eyes as if they were filmed by no less than Aeris's
father, Professor Gast. Ilfana comforted Aeris with a hand to her shoulder as she lowered her eyes modestly to affirm her
daughter's prayer was answered. Aeris rose her head as she watched her mother's figure slowly dissolve into the air and
soft pastel colors that faded against the bacground of Elmyra's home. Aeris stood up, dusting off anything that fallen atop
her apron.
Aeris lowered her face as she exhaled slowly into the cool evening air, " Hang in there Cloud. Help is on the way.
Johny I feel is trapped between the Lifestream and Gaia. I got my team out for you. "
Ilfana swept into the vast currents as she watched the tides of Shinra Manor's memories swirl past her into the
current time. Her timid glances were noticed by Vicent Valentine who fixed his eyes to her, as he diverted his attention
from Lucrecia.
" Ilfana...? "
" Vincent, you were noble to keep Lucrecia from hurt. However, her son Sephiroth is alive, and more so, she is a
grandmother. "
Lucrecia's stood quaking as she put her hand to her lips, as true to Vincent's assessment, she denied the truth in
front of her. Ilfana was not going to linger for sentimental displays or hear Vincent out at this hour, she grabbed
Lucrecia by her arm as she flew into the nursery, where she watched Sephiroth kneel, and slam the door as he emptied his
stomach into the sink. Tifa pounded on the door as she raised her voice to Sephiroth." Are you ok? Do you need to go back
to Corel? "
" No, just rest. I will be fine. "
Lucrecia looked confused at Sephiroth, the girl, and she went over to the cradle where his child was playing with her
mobile. Ume was trying to grab the dangling toys in front of her, and gurgled as she heard her parents. Lucrecia peeped in
the crib, as she stroked Ume's hair, and her eyes glistened with tears that she hadn't shed since Sephiroth's birth. She
recognized the infant's hair was her coppery brown, and she had her son's emerald eyes. Ume turned her face almost owlishly
as she stared back at her grandmother, and lifted a dainty fist as she touched her fingers. Lucrecia wept as she looked over
at Sephiroth, and at Tifa. She stood back once Ilfana extended her arm to block Lucrecia. Lucrecia sobbed, " Why deny me
this? "
" No, you will be reunited soon. I ask your reveal the truth to your son. Vincent will once he has his time. Your son upset
Gais's destined chamption, Cloud Strife. The time for this is past, and he will resume his intended route. I need answers
though, "
" What Ilfana? "
" Sephiroth tried to divert his fate by recognizing his sin through avoidance of Nibelheim's calamity. I wish you to find
the truth how he did. As I taught Aeris, the future is a blank page. "
" Fine, Ilfana. I don't want his happiness destroyed as mine was by Shinra or Hojo. I am sure Hojo would leave Ume in a
mako tank for specimens. "
" Lucrecia, did you not see Hojo is very persistent? He would just use that child or her mother to reach the same outcome to
test his hypothesis. Sephiroth bypassed the rightful Gaia Lifestream Guardian, my daughter Aeris. I am happy she has a life
for herself and Zach. I must see the details so not to derail Cloud or anyone under his care. "
" I will try if he refuses to help me,I can't do anything. He probably is suspicious of Hojo or anyone affiliated with
him."
" Then, all I ask is you try your best for Gaia's sake. "
Ilfana clasped her hands together as she left Lucrecia to be deposited into a quiet wave of the Lifestream as teal
streams rose and fell about them. Lucrecia held her breath as Ilfana's hand dragged Sephiroth.
" Tifa? Watch Ume.." Sephiroth glanced calmly as he streams of the Lifestram crashed and receded as he lifted his Masamune
to return home. " Genesis I had enough of your tracking Tifa and Ume", Sephiroth growled.
Lucrecia ran forward as she saw her son had grown to a fine man as Ilfana had predicted. She threw her arms about
his neck, and sobbed wildly as she could feel his heartbeat, a sound she hadn't heard in over twenty years.
" Son, I am your birth, your rightful mother ,not that virus Jenova. I saw Ume, she has my hair. Is that girl her mother? "
" Yes, my wife Tifa.I know you are. Tifa saw the files, she presented them to me. She was in the cellar looking to see if
she could find Hojo's data on Tiffany. Claudia said she had become a Mt. Nibel monster or a ghost. We searched and searched
for those folders, I even asked Director Tuesti. Nothing, just a lie. "
" So you avoided your fate that simply? " asked Lucrecia, smoothing and twisting Sephiroth's long silvery strands. "
" Not at all," answered Sephiroth." When I entered the Lifestream, I wished to see Professor Gast. In that previous path,
I was meant to burn Nibelheim, as I did. Professor Gast emphasized with me, he added had I visited the grave of one
returning to the planet, my wish would be answered. I traveled the Lifestream, wishing to see Elfe, the only person I
admired and considered a worthy opponent. As we spoke, she revealed that Tifa had admired my service in Soldier prior to
Nibelheim's destruction. We went together, she used a memory of Tifa to see she had a very intense crush on me after Zach
and I approved of her as a local guide. I saw her memories, and she too lost her mother from Mako poisoning. She was abused
by her sensei's doctors entrusted to Tifa, exploited. Elfe slowed a second of time where I promised Tifa's father for her
wellbeing. I felt an intense pain as I saw all of this, a possible future with Tifa. Claudia approached me saying she had
no rest since Tifa drove Cloud to distractions with no resolution. However, she would grant my wish if I ensured Tifa would
be mine. She took me to her grave by her burnt house, pushed me from the Lifestream so I visited her grave and did as she
asked. Now you see Ume." Sephiroth embraced Lucrecia warmly, his voice huskily confessing as he wept large tears in
silence, adding." Claudia said that to check the cellar with Tifa for files on her mother. One night, Tifa helped me to
recover my feelings despite Hojo's drugs in my prescribed Mako. Before Ume's birth, we agreed I would wean off I
have done this for addicted to Mako, aware it destroys the physical body, I pushed Directors Lazard and Tuesti
to warn the recruits of the consequences in fine print. The recruits can make more sensible, informed choices to avoid
Angeal, Genesis, and my fates."
Sephiroth rose as he heard the screeches of the loud, troubled souls that ascended and descended about mother and son.
The general growled in increasing fury as he slashed the unhappy beings into filaments. Lucrecia sighed softly, clenching
her son to her neck, as if he were still a newborn.
" Sephiroth, you openly can see you aren't to assist these in the Lifestream. You hinder their journey across the stars. My
dear boy, you self assigned Aeris's post to your fate. This has to be returned at once. "
Sephiroth nodded as he true to Aeris's view, scrolled through his cell, checking for texts from Director Lazard or
Zach. He then sat down with his legs crossed, his Masamune balanced on his knees. Sephiroth's eyes half closed as he tried
to trace Genesis in the Lifestream. Lucrecia held him for what felt to be an eternity to her, not having seen him since his
birth.
" Mother, may I ask if you saw Claudia with Hojo or Shinra Manor decades ago? "
" Why now that you mention it," Lucrecia pondered quietly, and she inquired, " I did. What is going on with Johny, my son?
Long ago, there was a Miss Midgar competetion. She entered, Gillian Hawley, Ruby, and Ms. Rhapsodos. . Ilfana was there
too. When we saw Claudia, she was battered, bruised, and crying to herself. Hojo had used her and Ms. Jean Rhapsodos. Jean
was engaged to the largest Banora White orchard owner,the Rhapsodos scion. The President was seeking a new bride that
could bear an heir that would suit Shinra's needs. He was divorcing his wife after she had heard about an affair he had w
with his secretary. The Rhapsodos were known for their Banora whites, and supplied major funding to Gillian's work. They
sought out a child that would be as perfect as their Banora Whites promised from Project S. Why, Sephiroth? "
Sephiroth's eyes widened with a secret turmoil as he dragged Lucrecia with him to Shinra Manor, to the lower depths
of the labratory where she had worked with Grimoire Valentine. Sephiroth bent over, doubling in shock, staggering as he
weighed in a grotesque encounter he had. Sephiroth looked about, hoping that Tifa was with Ume. Sephiroth spoke in hushed
tones as he pulled a disc from the library of Hojo and Lucrecia's.
" Mother, this disc recorded Hojo's work, I think in preparation for what he planned to do to Ilfana."
Lucrecia then took the disc as she turned it in her hands, and whispered, " Is that what he did? Ilfana and I heard
tales that Claudia was subjected to nightmarish horror because of Ruby. She was the most forward, ambitious yet beautiful
woman at the show. Why the host was no less than the Midgar mayor, Domino. Claudia said Ruby was a beast trying to bed the
President. She became an intern for weaponry under Heideggar who she eventually replaced. Ruby made sure Claudia suffered
for that personally. "
Sephiroth clicked his cell forward to scroll to the Shinra Directors' lists. " Mother, that is Scarlett. She is
now a Shinra executive. "
Lucrecia meditated for a few moments at her scientific calcaulations. She followed Sephiroth as he knelt over a sink
again, vomiting so that Tifa came into the room in shorts, a tank top, and kitten slippers, holding Ume. Lucrecia put the
disc to the side, as she drew Sephiroth's hair away from his heaving. The fearless General buckled to his knees, as Tifa
passed Ume to Lucrecia.
" We are getting you to the clinic now. I am calling Zach. "
" No, Tifa. Believe me, other matters are more pressing. "
Lucrecia could hear Sephiroth and Tifa playfully bickering as they decided on what to do should he worsen. He
Lucrecia laid Ume down in her sturdy crib, as she held her small feet, and inhaled her baby scent. She hadn't smelt a baby
since Sephiroth's birth. Hojo would torment her with occasional digital images of his growth in emails, a handful over the
years. When she clicked, she would see a haunting image of her beautiful son, as an innocent infant to a young man to be
reckoned with in terms of his intelligence, looks, and accomplishments. The image would vanish before she could save it,
and she only hated Hojo more as she discovered how he damaged Vincent. Grimoire Valentine, she thought, " Tifa's face I've
seen before."
Lucrecia remembered that Professor Gast had suggested that new, promising science students compete for interns in
summer to aid in Professor Valentine's works due to his unforeseen death. Gast laid his hand gently on Lucrecia, adding she
should sift the candidates and have them decipher the research to lighten her work load with her thesis. She had done
exactly that, and she watched videos of the students who sent clips of their research and related thesises. Lucrecia paused
as she went to the library's list of her collected work. She saw that the more advanced nature of her work and joint
efforts with Hojo were gone. Lucrecia flipped through a document summarizing students that won the scholarhips for her
thesis's research. She went through the biographies, as she let her index finger rest on a snapshot of Fiona and Lydia.
Lucrecia knew that Lydia was Claudia's nickname, and the same she had used for the Miss Midgar title. She took the photo to
squint closely at Fiona's face. Fiona had a uncanny resemeblence to Tifa aside of that Fiona had hazel eyes while Tifa
had maroon eyes. Fiona wore cats eyes glasses and help up her 2 fingers as a peace sign, while her other arm was around
Lydia's neck. Lydia wore a sash and tiara of the Miss Midgar Sector representive Sector 5, and Fiona beamed as she was
behind the Midgar University Science department. Lucrecia considered the impact of their work. Fiona claimed to find a new
energy source outside mako in terms of crystals capable of using solar power naturally. She stressed the crystals were
throughtout Gaia, in Mt. Nibel mostly and Wutai.