" Maybe can you try to planetread for me? Look at these Weapons, and colors. Just say what you see. " Sephiroth nodded
patiently, and took his crayons as he explained." Tsviets, means colors for one. Sapphire weaon's host will be Azul the
Cerulean..eyes match. Ultima Weapon is mostly black in color, so its' human host will be Nero the Sable. Ruby Weapon will
Rosso the Crimson, they match in the dark red hue, and have slate fittings." Sephiroth put his crayons down to smile back at
Gast, who put the photos back as the small boy handed them back, and bowed his head. Gast arose quickly, and said, " Well done
my boy. I will get that new dark chocobo for you." " Oh thank you, Dr. Gast, I have trained him to follow me, lay down, and he
will fight for me. He even says,' Raa kwa roff, my name. I don't want him killed or end up in a mako tank." Sephiroth put his
delicate, nearly girlish hands from the photos to clutch his coloring book, and smiled brightly at the Professor, with a
small smile that curved upward at his mouth's edges. " This is devestating," thought Aeris. She found tears beginning to flow
down her cheeks. She reflected." Only Cetra can planetread, so can some of their descents, Gaians. What happened, Sephiroth?
That's a rare gift, one in a hundred million."
Aeris saw President Shinra walk alongside Gast and Hojo,as he assessed, " So this Sephiroth is a child
prodigy. Planetread? "
" Yes, Mr. President! Watch what he can do. He would be a wise inventment for the Soldier Program."
" I object President Shinra, I am far more personally invested in this than anyone else. The subject doesn't need pets since
they could disrupt his mental conditioning. "
" I could do far more with him than Hojo if he is simply shown kindness."
" Well Sephiroth, show us your talents, maybe you can have that dragon."
Sephiroth looked the President directly unflinching as he knelt down, whistled softly as he took his left hand
to circle in a wavy pattern as a dark dragon swooped to launch fire directly as a dark chocobo raced alongside on the ground.
The blackish chocobo was tossing rocks, and other earthy matter as crude weapons with his beak as he ran parallel to the dragon
and started to indicate the direction as the chocobo emitted squawks in sonic vibrations. The President watched carefully as
huffed on his big cigar, nodding cautiously. Sephiroth jumped atop the dragon as it lowered to skimming above the ground. He
rode the dragon as he laughed carefree and waved down to them. The chocobo ran sideways careful to cluck loudly so the dragon
blasted in the directions and its fire in terms of the range of the clucks. The President nodded as he said." Well, the lad can
lead in terms of military prowess, and he is clever to have very different species working together in terms of warfare.
Let's see where this goes in terms of his being the prototype for Soldier. He can have both. Professor Hojo, stop sulking.
Yes, Gast you can supervise his education and training."
The President turned the corner as the other Directors jogged alongside, pitching ideas while he was in their
vicinity. Later, Sephiroth held out some greens for the chocobo, who preened his bangs while he whirred and checked the young
boy's hair for insects. Hojo hauled Seph to his cell, where he hissed, " How dare you embarass me in front of President Shinra
so you can have a pet! Attachment leads to sorrow, first lesson!" Hojo began to slap Sephiroth with fast, stinging blows so
the young boy turned his head with the strikes to lessen the pain. He squeezed his eyes shut to avoid the tears pouring on his
face, and far later in the night, he wept silently in his pillow. A door opened, a young woman in a lab coat and green cats
eye glasses, said gently." Hello, brought you some food. It's ok, why you crying honey? "
" Well, Hojo is going to kill my only friends, my fault I made friends."
Aeris's lips quivered and she violently repressed the urge to bawl. She recognized the young woman as Tifa's mother.
Tiffany sat beside the trembling Sephiroth, as she hugged him gently." Let it all out. Why if I had a princess for a child,
I would be so proud if you were her knight." Sephiroth rubbed his runny nose with his hand, and Tiffany dried his face and fed
him some soup. Sephiroth smiled wanly as he hugged Tiffany to offer his friendship, " I hope we can be friends." Tiffany took
a small brush as she began to style his hair. He sniffled, and she covered him with the blankets as she left to say," Dr. Gast
made sure they are kept right here with the President's home. Sleep well young man. " Sephiroth turned on his side as he held
his pillow, and snuggled into his cool bed, as he heard his chocobo squawking.
" Did you meet him Fiona? Such a sad, gentle boy that soul."
" Yes, Lydia. He can planetread! I can't believe it. "
Both the young students compared notes, and laughed quietly as they teamed to try a project for the scholarship.
" How about those crystals you found, Fiona? We can use them as solar batteries. We won't need Mako, we can work with Shinra
or start a new company? "
" Great thinking! You are going to be the best brand ambassador once you win that title. " Both the young women posed by the
Shinra Science Department as they left resumes, and filled out applications. Aeris's face sank as she recalled that not long
after Hojo won the bid for the Soldier Program, her father was killed, and Hojo led the Science Department. Aeris looked about
Sephiroth's home as he napped. Ume was playing with her toy Cait Sith, a pricy toy she knew Sephiroth lavished on his child.
Aeris continued to breathe deeply and organize her thoughts. " Is that why they wanted you to be in Soldier? So they could
abuse your gifts against Wutai? "
Aeris saw his chocobo being led away as a young Sephiroth kept a straight face to a holding pen, along with his
dragon. Tiffany was taking notes as she watched Sephiroth feed the chocobo greens and a carob nut.
" Why do you call him Despair? "
" Well, Hojo said I will always have despair over my choices. So I thought ok. "
" Well, President Shinra said they will go to new homes. A local rancher, Brian Lockhart will buy them. You can see them
anytime you want, angel. He's just not my friend, my future mate. "
" Thank you, Ms. Lockheart. "
Sephiroth was watching as a few local ranchers approached to appraise the local livestock as he watched them in
pure silence, he whispered to Tiffany," Were you exposed to the Chaos gene, Ms. Lockheart? "
" Well, I was doing research for Professor Crescent, I am her student this semester. Why? "
" Well, I can tell your eyes show the contact. Professor Crescent is working on a solution, Ms. Lockheart. "
" Oh thank you Sephiroth. I think I am fine."
" Want to hear something funny? "
" Yes? "
" They assigned Professor Hollander with me this week. I rode my dragon, so he tried to stop him. Professor Hollander said it
was too dangerous, so he went to curb the dragon. He saw his face as the rider, and my dragon blasted him as he protected me.
Dr. Hollander isn't going to work with me this year. " grinned a playful Sephiroth who stifled a laugh.
Tifa bounded the stairs down to Ume, as she was unaware of Aeris. She went over to Sephiroth to ruffle his bangs as she
leaned over to kiss his lips softly. " Hey sleepy, what do you feel like having for dinner? "
" Well, Zach is bringing home pizza. Aeris is waiting for him too. If that's ok? "
" Oh, sure. Hey Aeris! Grab a Materia Mate, on the house." Tifa tossed a few of the toys to Aeris, who caught a cat and a blue
chocobo. " Woo, so kawaii! " Aeris neared Tifa to slap her palm with a high five. Tifa smiled back with sheer happiness, as
she went over to the kitchen, clad in her dojo garb. She lifted a tired Ume to her shoulder as she bobbed her back and forth
to pace around as she checked the inventory lists for future orders. Sephiroth stretched his six feet plus, as he yawned, to
head upstairs to shower and dress since Aeris was their guest. Aeris's eyes peered at the corner by the ceiling as she saw her
mother hover by a shelf, laden with tapes, magazines, and news articles. Ilfana put her finger out to a tape, which she slid
a few inches down the shelf.
Aeris raced over to catch the tape as she caught it to turn it over as she checked the title." Nothing at all.
Not even a dust jacket. Hey, Tifa can I borrow this tape? "
Tifa looked at the tape for a few seconds as she called Zach's cell to find out when his arrival since Aeris had.
" Hey, let us know when you are coming to the house. Aeris is waiting here. "
Tifa whirled around as she sensed Sephiroth's cooling attitude, and this meant usually he was going to be
deployed or he was ill. Aeris was bending over in a pretty summer dress as she lifted up Sephiroth and Tifa's wedding
portrait. " You both look so happy."
" We are. Just this addiction makes him a bit moody. Like Marle said, Soldier recruits have that operation to withstand Mako.
She thinks they can't have it both ways. I think Zach proves you can. Seph is upset by the news, he thinks the executives
should step up and try to work with local people. You know, I think he asked Zach to help check out my mom's dojo."
Aeris paused as she chewed a nail, and looked over at Tifa," Zach told me there may be activity like Genesis copies?
Maybe displaced plate residents? "
Tifa put Ume down as she smoothed her hair and she admitted," I haven't been there in stil does
upkeeps for my mom's memory. Sephiroth thought maybe a floor at the Manor could be used for virtual classes for the dojo. He
really is worried about locals like Johny. He's smart, I wonder why he didn't try for a science degree as much as he learned
in Shinra. Oh, Johny would fall in love with any girl same way. Cloud tried out for Soldier. He really avoids contact here now
and he said he may relocate to Kalm.I feel bad for Johny,a male chocobo! I told Dad he better watch his herds carefully.
Breeding season, now."
" Hmm, can you planetread Tifa? My mom could, it's just I wonder who else can? "
Tifa chewed her lip as she began to set the dinner table with plates, cutlery, and a vase of wildflowers. She
replied, " My mom learned the basics, and I think Seph's mom practiced. Mostly your parents were best at it, Aeris. Tifa put
her hands on her hips, " Maybe Sephiroth can or did. He said he found old volumes at my mom's dojo. It's a good trade if you
can. If Ume can, " Tifa looked up quickly to see Sephiroth emerge from the upstairs bedroom downstairs to the foyer in his
battle armor which still sent chills down her spine. He flushed at her blushes, and heavy fluttering of her eyelashes. She
ambled forward to tug at his collar, and whispered ," Dilly dally."
Sephiroth leaned over to sweep her in his arm, as his eyes twinkled with love, desire, and contentment. He
kissed her deeply as he answered in a tender whisper, " Shilly shally." Then,they both laughed with raucous cries as Tifa
fussed his hair from his collar, and she adjusted his leather straps as not to cut into his skin.
" Um, ok? " Aeris gazed a bit nervously, a bit awkwardly at the private exchange. The young couple had more peals of laughter
the General arose to check his watch." Well, I will call.." he turned on his black leather boots as Zach burst in with pizza
boxes as he laid them on the table. "Ok, one pie is cheese, and other is half meat and vegan. Dig in! " Sephiroth arose to cut
the pies into the desired slices to all, and sat down as Tifa did in his lap, feeding him a vegan slice. Tifa laughed as he
watched perplexed as Aeris ate cheese and folded it to eat more.
" This is really good Zach! Where did you get it? "
" Oh, a friend recommended it. Raspberry's in Midgar. "
" Maybe your dad should add pizza to his menu, Tifa. "
" He might, he likes to vary the selection. "
Aeris watched agitated as her mother floated above so no one else could detect her. Ilfana glanced to Sephiroth's
right side as she pushed Tifa's hand so another slice flew down across his chest to slide down his leg. Sephiroth arose,
trying to suppress a smile as he grabbed a napkin to wipe off his skin from the grease. Despair entered to glance around, and
gobbled the pizza topping's greens, before he flapped outside. This caused the party of four to pelt loud laughter so even
Soldier security wondered what could be happening. Sephiroth announced. " It's late. Let's go tomorrow, Zach. There's a room
for you Aeris, on the third floor with a shower. Tifa has a spare robe if you need one. "
" Why, thanks! I did pack a bag for a few days. "
" Let me get your bags, Aeris." Zach cheerfully touted her bags as he followed her upstairs.
" Wow, I haven't had a slumber party since I was 8." Tifa giggled.
" Well, don't worry. I sleep earlier since I still have to check the florist shop. " Aeris called quietly.
Unknown to the General and his wife, a red cloak arose and swirled outside a slight crack in the window. Vincent
left to rerturn to the other Avalanche members the latest news of Aeris's visit.
.