I do not own FFVII characters – though I wish I did. lol
I do own my own character – Jalyne and other originals.
Chapter 50 – The Summon
The Whispers flared around them, swirling and floating throughout the cavern. He held her there and did not relinquish the bindings, watching the power take her over. It was beautiful. He created a goddess. Sephiroth watched as she resisted the Black Materia's pull, only to see her writhe in pain from it.
Jalyne didn't want this – the awakening of power and the absorption of her mother's gift. She railed against it only to be drown out and suffocated. Her eyes covered in black aura and she let out a heart-wrenching scream, succumbing to it.
It's okay. Let it flow.
What choice did she have? Jalyne clenched her fists, reveling in the power that was gifted to her. Her freedom. The chaos and destruction; the anger and rage; the injustice and hardships she had been through filtered through her mind.
Remember, it is an event that could not be stopped.
The clouds over Midgar swirled with darkness, congealing around the sky in rapid circles. The Turks and the President looked skyward in dismay.
"Oh boy." Rude commented moving his shades down in the darkened night.
Reno glanced through the Gate at Jalyne and watched her convulse with power. His heart broke. He didn't like seeing her like this. For the first time in a long time, he was afraid. Reno dropped to his knees and hung his head. He couldn't save her – he was too late.
No, you are not.
Faterian?
Your choice hasn't been made.
Reno looked skyward as the darkness parted to show the stars and in a bright flash, they saw the formation of Meteor off in the distance of the Heavens.
Sephiroth pulled Masamune from Jalyne's shoulder as she slumped within his grasp, drained from the casting of the Calamity. She raised her head slowly.
"I…hate…you." She mumbled.
"Remember that feeling." Sephiroth mused and threw her towards the Gate.
Rude managed to tackle Reno in time for Jalyne to crash through the Gate. The partners tumbled and rolled, the force of the action bringing Reno back to the present as the other three moved out of the way.
Jalyne flew through the Gate with the shield shattering like glass all around them. It snapped closed with a bang of power before Sephiroth could come through and the Whispers flowed around her, keeping the others from her. She landed near the other side of the helipad, rolling to end on her stomach and head bowed towards the ground. She struggled to get up and faltered.
Rufus, Tseng and Elena edged around the right side trying to come to her aid. Reno took off running with Rude behind him as they watched her power darken and swirl around her.
"No." she whispered weakly. "Stay back."
Her family kept coming forward. Jalyne managed to get to her knees and pounded the cement with her fist, causing a shock wave of power to circulate outwards, pushing them back.
"Please!" she screamed with another pulse radiating outward and the Whispers disappeared.. "Stay back!"
Jalyne crouched low leaning back upon her heels. The Turks maneuvered around her as she watched them closely. Jayne glanced at the President, narrowing her eyes. "Please." She whispered in his direction. Kill me.
Rufus's eyes betrayed him and he minutely shook his head in response. My Dearest…I cannot.
You must. She implored the President.
His eyes narrowed and he looked away. He couldn't do it. He could not raise his gun to her. Rufus's jaw tightened as he looked back to her, crystal eyes softened. The images that he had seen when he relinquished the Book of Souls came to his mind.
You saw it. Rufus heard her. Please…
I cannot Dearest. He gazed at her. I cannot take your life. You mean too much to me.
Forgive me. Her eyes flashed briefly and with a flick of her wrist raised the shotgun. Rufus struggled against her, trying to block her out of his mind. This darkness – I cannot control it. The chaos reigns and my Light fades. Please…
The shot went off, clipping her in the left shoulder and threw her backwards to the ground. Rufus snarled, throwing the shotgun out of his hand behind him.
"Sir!" Reno screamed aghast at what just happened. The surprise of the shot momentarily stopping all of them.
Rufus nodded at Tseng. He took off at full speed intent on hand-to-hand combat. Jalyne stood, blood dripping from both shoulders as the black aura swirled around her. She called her staff in a bright flash and waited for the attack.
Tseng and Rude arrive at her first, one on each side of her. Tseng jabbed high while Rude struck low and Jalyne blocked both with ease, one with her hand and one with her staff. She twirled and swung low, causing Tseng to jump and backflip out of the way.
Jalyne turned and clipped Rude in the stomach and followed with a strike upwards, knocking him back. Elena opened fired and Jalyne twirled her staff, blocking bullets. Reno angled around, rod at the ready but hesitant.
The three continued the barrage but making no headway. Reno shook his head as he watched Jalyne's aura darken further, raising his rod and jamming it to the ground. She gritted her teeth and looked at him with an outstretched hand absorbing his strike.
Jalyne was breathing hard and tried not to hurt her friends. She was losing her mind as the night encroached upon it. That feeling of pandemonium and freedom pulled at her.
Tseng advanced again this time behind her, pulling her arms behind her and securing her wrists. He nodded at Elena to stop firing as she stepped in front of the President in protection. "Jalyne, calm down!" the Director whispered to her. "We're your friends!"
With a humph she broke his grasp and engaged, throwing punches and jabs at her mentor. Rude followed unleashing a shockwave, taking her off balance and proceeded to attack. Reno crept around her and pursued, striking with controlled thrusts of his mag rod.
A punch from Rude sent her across the helipad with a grunt. Jalyne raised to her knee grasping at her right shoulder. The black materia flared within her and she raised her staff. She twirled it light and jammed the butt of it into the ground.
"Naio!" she screamed unleashing the powerful wave and knocked all of them back.
Reno gazed at her, narrowing his eyes. He saw the pulse. Her arms outstretched wide and he could see her lips moving rapidly. The shimmering pale glow decended in a wide circle around her. Reno sprang forward, rushing to beat the shield and slid under it as it reached the ground.
"Reno!" Tseng called, fearful for his Turks within the barrier.
Jalyne curiously looked at the love of her soul, wandering why he would dare to come across her in this state. She was losing and knew it. She couldn't contain her mother's power and the light was fading rapidly.
"Reno," she pleaded with him. "please…get out of here."
"As if, yo."
"I-I don't want to hurt you."
"I don't believe you will, yo." He stated calmly. "I can see your light. Fight it, Beloved."
"I can't fight it forever, Reno." She solemnly stated, lightly shaking her head. "Not every second of every minute of every hour of every day."
Reno walked slowly towards her and stood in front, raising his eyes in question and reached his hand towards her. "We can, together, yo."
She batted his hand away, eyes flaring with blackness. "Naio. Plaro. Khiinae meia." Jalyne stepped backwards and crouched low with her staff, ready for anything. "Plaro."
Reno sighed. "I can't, Beloved."
"Wazi e?"
Reno squinted at her dangerously and sped towards her, zig zagging across the helipad. The flame-haired Turk connected with her, pushing her back and striking her with the rod. "Don't make me do this, yo."
Jalyne arched her staff at his feet. Reno hopped skyward, landing on the blades as she swung across her body. He jumped behind her, striking her lower back with electricity. Jalyne yelped, diving and rolling forward coming to stand in front of him.
Reno darted forward, engaging her quickly and keeping her off guard. Staff and mag rod clashed with the sound of grating steel and molstiel. They traded blows but Reno knew she wasn't putting her full strength behind her fighting. She didn't want to hurt him.
Jalyne feinted right, swinging the handle to clip Reno's legs. He faltered, stumbling a few steps before righting upward and glared lightly at her. He tapped the mag rod on his shoulder waiting for her next strike, watching her aura flare.
"What do you think?" Tseng asked the President, gazing at the battle.
"I think that something unexpected is going to occur."
Tseng reached out and tapped the shield watching it shimmer with each motion. Rude stood beside him.
"She's trying not to hurt him."
"But how long will that last?" Elena asked coming to stand next to the President.
"She's near the breaking point." Rufus stated. "Her aura and power aren't stable." He pointed out looking at his Turk flicker between light and dark. My Dearest. Don't give in.
Reno flipped the switch at the bottom and the mag rod sprang to life. Jalyne's eyes widened at the weapon, then narrowed. He charged at her, taking her slightly aback with the fierocity of it. She parried easily but began to tire of the game. Jalyne could feel herself losing control.
Jalyne pulled her staff forward and jabbed, catching the mag rod in between one blade and the crystal. With a twist of the wrist, she wrenched hard but Reno was ready, ducking underneath her blades and sweeping her legs, taking her off balance.
She stumbled backwards. Her eyes flared with black aura as the night consumed her. Jalyne lashed outward, pulsing an energy wave consecutively outward, catching Reno and sending him backwards. She snarled, consumed with power and charged at him.
Use it.
What, yo? Reno questioned shaking his head clear from the blasts.
What you were given. Use it.
He stood slowly as Jalyne made contact, pushing him backwards and causing him to tumble and roll. She advanced again to be met by an unseen force, colliding with it and sending her sliding across the helipad, slow to get up.
Reno reached into his pocket and withdrew the red materia. Are you sure about this, yo?
As long as it is for the right reasons.
Reno stared at his love who was shaking her head to clear the fog, the summon materia pulsing within his hand and closed his turquoise eyes to concentrate.
"What the-!" Elena exclaimed moving to strike the barrier. "He's never used a summon!"
"First time for everything." Rude commented staring at his partner in disbelief.
"Not if he kills himself doing it." Rufus stated snidely. "He better know what he is doing or you'll be promoting a new Second." He stated turning to Tseng who remained impassive.
They watched as Reno closed his eyes to concentrate. The red glow emanated around him as he slowly called to the magic. This was different than his normal spells. It felt different. He opened his eyes and all he could see was flames with Jalyne in the distance. Remembering what she had taught him on Gründlia, he tried that tactic, reaching out towards Gaia's Lifestream.
Jalyne's eyes widened in a moment of clarity, seeing Reno attempt a summon as emotions overtook her. She screamed suddenly, launching into the air with speed towards him. "Nooo!"
It was draining to him, the power to summon and he could feel himself losing consciousness or being pulled someplace else. Reno felt his body collapse to the cement.
"Nooo!" Jalyne sped towards him only to be met with an unknown force which knocked her back into the air.
They looked on in horror, seeing their partner collapse to the ground, fearing the worst outcome for the spunky and unique Turk. The barrier slowly shimmered and in the distance they heard a screech and all eyes looked upward.
The flaming bird swooped downward from high in the sky. Jalyne sped forward intent on reaching her love before it was too late. She was met with energy unlike she ever felt which pushed her back and trapped her in the air. Her eyes flashed and she flew her arms outward, breaking the bonds.
The Whispers returned swirling around them but not making any sudden moves. Jalyne rushed towards Reno again only to come to a sliding stop as flames sprang forward to block her path. She swiped them with her staff to no avail and a gust of fire swept her back, causing her to tumble through the air.
She was held in place by a power she's never encountered and when she opened her eyes, Jalyne stared into the orange flaming eyes of the phoenix. He positioned himself to guard Reno, shielding him from her sight within the flames.
The Turks moved to go to their partners side only to be halted by the President.
"Let this play out." The blond commented looking at the whispers and the flaming deity. "We can do nothing to change this."
"Sir?" Tseng questioned.
"Reno is fine." Rufus nodded in his direction. "The phoenix is protecting him. Even if we tried to make a move, the whispers would interfere."
"Whispers?" Elena asked. "There's nothing there."
Rude raised an eyebrow at his Chief but otherwise said nothing. For some reason Elena and Tseng could not see them. Rufus pulled out his phone, calling medical personnel to attend to Reno, though he suspected he was fine and just needed rest, his energy depleted from the summon. The President turned to his struggling Turk hovering in the air.
"Please!" Jalyne pleaded with the deity. "Let me go!" Her anger flowed dangerously but the Phoenix held it's ground.
Stay silent and don't move.
Why, yo? Reno threw outward to the flaming bird.
You need to hear what she will say.
A screech filled the area as the phoenix reared up, wings outstretched. "Your choice, Jalyne!" It rang through the air.
Jalyne tried to break free of the bonds only to feel them tighten. "NO!" She flailed against them in earnest. "Let me go! I have to go to him! Please, Faterian!"
"Your choice, Jalyne!" Faterian boomed.
"There is no choice!" she grated struggling within the bonds.
The flames flared around Reno, blocking him from her. Her eyes widened in disbelief and stared at the god of Fate.
"Please, Faterian!" Jalyne cried as she felt the bond breaking. "It's fading! Please! PLEASE!" Her aura lashed wildly changing from blue to black to white. It felt like her soul was tearing. "Please! You have the power to save him. Please! He's dying!"
Faterian lowered his wings but stood his ground, the flames around his eyes lessening. "You would give up your power to save one human?"
Jalyne brought her hands to her face and sobbed. "It is my fault! I killed him. I forced him to summon you!"
"That was his choice to use the summon materia, Jalyne. Not yours."
"NO!" she cried staring at the god of Fate. "Please! PLEASE!" Jalyne lashed out in anger only for Faterian to strengthen his hold.
"Again, would you give up everything to save one human?"
Jalyne calmed a little but stared hard at Faterian. Her aura swirled white and black in grand circles around her. Green eyes fell upon her love, lying there within the flames of Fate. Jalyne pulled her hands to her abdomen which glowed dark blue. "Please." She whispered. "He doesn't deserve this."
"You would give your life for his?" Faterian questioned softly, seeing her calm. "Why?"
She stared hard at the god of Fate and pursed her lips before answering. "Because I love him, Faterian. And I will be with him, in this life or the next, and not even you will stop it."
Faterian raised his beak and screeched, the sound reverberating throughout the area. He leveled his at her once again. "Jalynemidenovia e T'Karvriandria. What does your name mean?"
Jalyne glanced at Reno as the medical personnel reached him and began hooking up instruments. She felt the bond break completely and no longer being able to sense him, her mind snapped.
"NOOO!" She screamed, breaking the bonds from Faterian and raised her arms menacingly to the god, anger overruling sense.
You killed him. You killed the man you love. Jalyne heard the unknown voice chuckle maliciously within her mind.
She closed her eyes feeling the darkness overtake her soul. She did this. She killed him. Jalyne no longer fought the darkness but allowed it to consume her. When she opened her eyes again, they were black, swirling with the chaotic destruction and pandemonium that was her mother's power.
Jalyne raised one arm upward towards the meteor that was coming towards Gaia, allowing the power to fill her as she glared at Faterian. She raised her other arm up to him as the chaotic black clouds swirled around them.
"So be it." Jalyne seethed.
The clouds coalesced inward surrounding her and with a resounding crack and boom, flared outward, pushing everyone back. When the glare subsided, all persons looked around wildly.
She was gone.