I do not own FFVII characters – though I wish I did. lol

I do own my own character – Jalyne and other originals.

Chapter 51 – The Broken

Turquoise eyes opened and he swatted the medical personnel away and tried to stand. Reno swayed on his feet within the flames of the phoenix, breathing hard. In a great gust of wind, the flames stopped and a swirl of magic flowed around him.

Faterian outreached a hand to him as the others ran, looking at wonder at the burgundy haired deity. Reno accepted it gladly an steadied himself, turning towards the others as they approached.

Rufus paused, assessing the stranger diligently while Tseng, Elena and Rude stood in attack stance in front of him. Reno ran a hand through his hair.

"Ummm, yo." He began. "There's no need for that."

"Are you sure?" Rude questioned.

"Yeah, yo, I'm pretty sure." Reno glanced at Faterian and proceeded. "Meet Faterian."

The god of Fate nodded at each of them as they're eyes widened in recognition of who they were in the presence of .

"The next move, yo?" Reno asked.

"We find her." The deity replied. "Before all is lost."

"And where do you think she went?" Rufus cocked an eyebrow. "Or more importantly, is she still even on Gaia?"

"She is still here." Faterian answered. "She is tied to this world."

"How so?" Rude questioned. Faterian gazed at him in thought before turning his eyes upon Reno.

"Did you not hear what she said?"

"So she fell in love with me, yo." Reno shrugged, though his eyes betrayed him to the deity. "Big deal."

Faterian stared intently before replying. "It is more than that. The bond you two share runs deep. It is the severance of that bond that is driving her to be broken."

Rufus listened intently and then motioned for them to retreat to the office to get out of the cold winter wind. Faterian helped Reno, taking his time with the red-haired Turk as the others went ahead. Reno look at the god with suspicion before posing his question.

"You shielded me and the bond, yo." He ascertained. "I don't feel any different."

"Yes." Faterian sighed. "Part of all of this is Jalyne must learn to control the darkness now that she has her mother's power."

"Shitty way to have her learn that, yo."

"I know." Faterian conceded. "But she must stop running from the night and learn to face it head on."

They walked into the office and Reno laid on the couch propping his head with his arms and closing his eyes. The others gathered around the desk with Faterian staying a bit back.

"Any idea where she would be?" Elena seriously questioned. "It's not like she's been to many places here."

"Could she have went back to the Temple or the Forgotten City?" Rude asked the deity.

"It's possible."

Rufus turned to gaze out of the large window thinking rapidly on all of the places his Dearest has been. "I don't think so." He answered.

Elena went to the computers at the far end of the room and booted them up. "I'll start searching."

"I'll help." Rude offered.

"Sensors and surveillance should pick up something rapidly."

Tseng appeared at Rufus's side.

"What do you think?" the blond president questioned quietly.

"I don't know." The Director answered truthfully. "She could be anywhere."

Faterian closed his eyes and concentrated shaking his head in dismay. Reno stayed silent but thought hard on where the woman he loved would have went.

"Checking her ship." Elena reported. "Sensors are still intact and not going off."

"So we wait?" Rude asked.

"What choice do we have?" Rufus answered not looking away from the window.

And so they waited, each lost within their own minds as to where their partner could have gone. Reno stayed motionless on the couch trying to reach outward through the bond. He couldn't feel her. All of the feelings that he would normally take in stride were gone and he couldn't call to them.

The red-haired Turk concentrated more, idly wondering where his love would have gone. He never told her how he really felt and the revelation of her love changed the dynamics greatly and gave him much to consider.

His thoughts moved towards Gründlia and what Jalyne was teaching him there. The Lifestream responded to him acutely on that foreign world and felt much different than here on Gaia. It made sense to him. Reno slowly opened his eyes and took a deep breath.

"She's at the Northern Cave, yo." He whispered.

All eyes snapped to him in wonder though Faterian smiled wanly yet proudly.

"Are you sure?" Rufus questioned.

"What better way to learn control than through the Lifestream itself?"

"Jalyne is tied to the Lifestream." Rude mused. "We've seen it before."

"And this Lifestream is tied to her mother." Tseng inputted, turning to Rufus for affirmation. Rufus nodded in ascent and Tseng turned to Elena. "Contact Shotgun. See if she knows or has seen anything in the last hour or so in that area."

"Yes sir."

Faterian sat next to Reno and waited for he knew there was a question the Turk wanted to ask. He waited patiently.

"Was my choice made, yo?" Reno finally questioned after some thought.

"Not yet." Faterian answered. "But it is coming. Rather rapidly I might add."

Reno rolled his eyes. "That's just fantastic." He replied quietly.

"You will know when it is time." The god answered. "You must decide."

"Decide what exactly, yo?" Reno questioned quietly looking intently at the god.

"Whether you love her or not." Faterian stated bluntly. "Will you fight for her Light and can you love her for who she truly is."

Reno narrowed his eyes and was going to reply when Elena interrupted.

"Shotgun says there's storm clouds over the Northern Cave." The blonde reported. "There's also no word of Cloud's group. She says they left but has yet to return."

Rufus turned to the Turks and nodded. "Bring her home."

Aerith gazed at the mass of darkness above them. The Whispers were flowing around Jalyne and the Ancient could just make out her form. Something happened. It was a feeling the Ancient had at the pit of her stomach.

The others gathered around her diligently watching the scene in the air. Zack placed a hand on Aerith's shoulder in comfort.

"What's the next move?" he quietly asked.

Aerith shook her head and closed her eyes. "I have to reach out to her. Something happened."

"Is that wise?" Cloud inquired. "Or is it worth it. We all saw her summon Meteor."

"Against her will." Tifa interjected. "Jalyne was forced to by absorbing the Materia."

"Meteor is an event that was supposed to happen." Aerith stated quietly. "But the outcome of her summoning it is what can change."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cid exclaimed. "I say we take her down."

Aerith shook her head again. "No. I summoned her here. I stopped her journey for a purpose. She will help make it right."

"Summoning Meteor will make it right?" Yuffie asked. "I don't see that happening!"

Aerith folded her hands in front of her as she dropped to her knees. The Ancient concentrated bringing the green glow of the Lifestream towards her. She thought of the woman above them and reached outward in thought.

It's okay.

No, it isn't.

What happened Jalyne?

I've lost him. I lost all of it.

Aerith could feel the anger, guilt and chaos radiating off of the princess. Meteor was supposed to occur.

But not by my hand.

It was the one action that was changed in an event that was destined to occur. You will help make it right.

I cannot bring him back. I killed him. Jalyne lamented. I am broken.

Aerith's eyes widened as she understood Jalyne's thought. She opened her eyes and gazed at the Whispers that flowed outward from the white-haired Turk. They were protecting her. Nothing would stop the next event.

"We're almost there." Elena relayed over the coms.

Three helicopters were on route to the Northern Cave. Two held a contingent of helisoldiers and one carried the Turks and President, helmed by Tseng and Elena. Sitting amongst them was the god of Fate who idly looked outward along the landscape, deep in thought.

"Is this wise, yo?" Reno asked looking down at his attire. "I'm a Turk, not a soldier."

Rufus smiled wanly at his Second. "And we need to shock her back into reality."

"Alive." Rude interjected. "What better way to bring her out of this than showing her you are alive and kickin'."

Reno looked at Faterian in earnest. "Well?"

"It's as good of a plan as any." The human phoenix replied non-chalantly. "Right now she is wallowing in darkness."

"And how are we going to break through that, yo?" Reno questioned pointing towards the cockpit.

"Descend from above and below." Rufus answered.

"You know she's gonna fight, yo. Self preservation and all that."

"Not if we can snatch her first."

The choppers swung low of the clouds and started the entry into the swirling chaos that surrounded Jalyne.

She vaguely heard the sound of the helicopters, deeply lost within her own thoughts. She killed him. It was her fault he summoned the phoenix and Faterian did nothing to stop him. Jalyne seethed at the thought and anger coursed through her for the god of Fate.

How dare he! The princess thought wildly. He could have stopped this!

The pain was overwhelming and chaos loomed in her mind and she wanted to lash out and destroy. Something held her back. Images and flashes were shown to her as she pulled from the Lifestream trying to mold the darkness. Some were of the past, while some were of the future.

She furrowed her brows at the sight of the blue-haired woman who hovered just beyond. There was something about her that called to Jalyne. The vision changed to have her with one she recognized – Faterian.

Another image floated across with Jalyne recognizing the image of her mother. Not the JENOVA that was known to Gaia, but a different, more ethereal form. It was who she was partnered with that made Jalyne concentrate harder. The princess did not recognize him – dark hair with horns curling back from it. He was striking and carried archaic armor laced in red. Jalyne noticed the emblem in the center of his forehead as Jurvien bore the same mark.

A god is just a word, Jalyne; a word used by living entities to explain that which they cannot comprehend. She remembered Faterian's words.

Her eyes snapped open at the crashing sound of metal as something suddenly pulled her. Jalyne landed with a humph on metal grating and pushed the person holding her aside. She rolled to her stomach to get up, only to have her arms pulled behind her as she caught the flash of white leather.

Jalyne smirked as her eyes settled upon the god of Fate. "Naio." She snapped her arms outward breaking Rufus' bonds. "Belugie na e u."

Her wings flowed outward, catching the draft of wind from the open side door and carrying her back outward. Her arms raised upward pushing a gust of air towards the chopper, not caring who or what was on board.

The chopper spun in the air before Tseng managed to right it and hung back at Rufus's command. "Sir?" the Director asked.

"Take her down." Came the command.

Jalyne watched as the Whispers dissipated and two choppers descended through the clouds. Doors flew open and helisoldiers flew outward with Jalyne grinning evilly.

In their defense, the soldiers really did try but Jalyne whizzed around them in the air, taking them down one by one as shots were fired. She encountered a few that used mag rods and the shock of it was even more maddening to her, reliving the death of her beloved.

She pulled the darkness inward, making it a weapon. Gravity orbs extended outward at her command and Jalyne didn't hold any punches or power. She descended slowly towards the caverns unconsciously not allowing the soldiers to be gravely harmed.

She battled on as more and more soldiers exited the helicopters. Soon she was surrounded and paused looking directly at one that wasn't wearing or holding onto heligear.

"I will be free." Jalyne called out, looking at the President who stood in the doorway of his chopper.

"Is that what you truly want?" he answered her with Faterian coming to stand with him.

"I belong to no one!" She screamed over the wind, eyes narrowing. "It no longer matters what I want!"

At his nod, the soldiers attacked one by one with Jalyne expertly defending herself. She called her staff to her hands and folded her wings to gain more speed with the wind above the cavern. Mag rods bounced off her staff as shots rang through the air.

Reno didn't like what he was seeing. His beloved was tearing them apart with no holds barred. He wore a modified type jet back to leave both of his hands free as he brandished his mag rod. He watched as a few bullets clipped Jalyne and tumbled through the air, using the wind to guide her.

The red-haired Turk flipped the switch at the bottom of his weapon intent on stopping the woman he loved from wreaking havoc or destruction – or worse total chaos to Gaia. Being in close proximity, Reno could feel her thoughts and emotions through the bond, yet he could tell she wasn't aware of him. Faterian's magic still held strong.

She was sure he was dead and the guilt overran any common sense or decision making. Reno thought about JENOVA and what he learned with Solaria and others. Was this what caused a divergence within the cosmos? Was the bond so strong between two people that it ripped reality asunder?

Jalyne watched the last soldier hover in front of her, waiting for the attack. He zipped forward only to hover closer and watched her intently – or she assumed so given that his face was covered in the mask.

"You will not win." Jalyne seethed angrily. "I will be free to do as I please."

Reno stopped himself from answering, not wanting to give his particular dialect away. The Plan was simple. They were to subdue her and bring her home preferably without hurting her too bad. He held his weapon low and swept across his body testing her reflexes.

Jalyne saw the move and took her staff to block easily but not using any force. The soldier twirled the rod and struck high of which she blocked yet again. The princess took off around him but he spun quickly and dodged easily.

They traded strikes throughout the sky as the President, Faterian and the Turks looked onward. Reno was frustrating her – they could all see that as they zipped along in the air. A boom resonated throughout the area and when it faded, the dark midnight kiss clouds erupted.

Now's the time. Reno heard Rufus through the coms.

With a nod, Reno dashed to the clouds allowing them to provide his cover and watched as Jalyne looked for him. He unleashed lightning, connecting with her from behind and making her flip backwards. Reno dashed above her and swung his weapon, tapping the bottom button.

Jalyne saw the energy exploded in front of her but couldn't dodge and raised her arms in defense. The blast hit her in the chest and as she descended to the cave below she felt a hand grab her front cloak and push more.

"Tag."

Jalyne's eyes widened as she crashed to the cavern stone, shocked at what she thought she heard. She struggled to stand, leaning on her staff for assistance. The princess felt others rapidly approaching and the sound of the helicopter's descent. That blast was like no other.

Cloud watched as the Shinra soldier flung the princess to the cavern stone wall and took off running towards her, ready to intervene if necessary.

Aerith followed with Zack and the others behind her. "Cloud – Don't!"

He stopped just in front of her, watching warily as she struggled to get up. Aerith pushed to the front of him and extended a hand towards Jalyne.

Jalyne growled and shook her head. "What do you want?"

"To make you understand." The Ancient answered quickly.

"Understand what exactly?" the princess snapped.

"That this was supposed to happen." Aerith answered.

"Me killing Reno was supposed to happen?" Jalyne raised her voice. "What a twisted outcome Faterian has given me!"

The others assumed a battle stance and Jalyne noticed the choppers beginning to descend into the mountain. She gazed at the lone soldiers and her eyes dangerously narrowed. "Folita i nae."

"He isn't gone." Aerith stated calmly but nodded towards the sky.

Jalyne looked at the group raising her hand to them and showed them the black aura surrounding it. "As darkness binds."

Aerith reached out to her, but Jalyne stepped back and glared at them. "Do not. My light is no longer."

"Are you sure of that?" Aerith reached for her again this time grabbing her hand with a bright flash.

Jalyne's eyes widened at the Ancient, then narrowed suspiciously. The princess turned her attention to the sky as a shriek filled the air. Out of one of the choppers, the flames of Fate stretched outward as Faterian assumed the phoenix form.

Jalyne snarled and crouched low, steadying herself to take flight when something caught her eyes in the distant sky. She watched the orange glow of Meteor on one horizon and her eyes swept across to the other side. Black and white energy was rushing towards Gaia though it only seemed that she could see it. Jalyne closed her eyes and concentrated and when she opened them, the blue haze returned. She instinctively knew what was needed.

Jalyne clenched her fists, dropping her staff to the rocky cliff and launched into the air. She zipped passed the soldier, missing the swatch of red hair that peeked from the helmet in the wind and barreled past the choppers, watching as the flames of Fate circled around to intercept her.

Jalyne swept her arm outward, casting the phoenix aside without a second glance and headed towards the upper atmosphere and beyond, intent on figuring out this puzzle.

The Time has come.