His head hurt. He didn't know where he was. It was cold and humid. Faintly, his nose picked up on the smell of mold. In the distance, he could hear water droplets, falling and making sounds as they fall onto the ground. Said sounds, echoed across the environment as the sound waves generated by them, ricocheted off the walls. It was quite clear to him, that he was somewhere underground.

He tried to move his body but couldn't. His hands were tied behind his back and his feet were tied together, too. It was at that moment, that he realized, that despite being unable to move, he could try. It wasn't like before when he couldn't even choose to struggle. He couldn't move, because he was tied up, not because there was a parasite in his head, not allowing him to.

Unfortunately, as he came to that realization, other memories flooded his mind. Memories such as how he almost killed Aeris and her mother. How he did horrible things for the Loyalists, on his way to Wutai. Things that he couldn't forgive himself for, despite knowing full well that he wasn't at fault.

Speaking of Wutai, for him, that was the one good thing that had come of that whole mess. Sephiroth was dead. He vividly remembered stabbing the silver haired devil, straight through the chest, with the Buster sword's wide blade. Just as vividly, he also remembered how after that, he pulled out said sword, and cut the devil's head, clean off. Leaving only a headless corpse to fall to the ground.

And then... darkness. Until he found himself wherever he was now. He opened his eyes but couldn't see anything as there was a blindfold over them. What he could gather, however, was that wherever he was, the was also an artificial light source, present in the same space as him, as the light generated by such a device, was unmistakable.

It was around that time, that he also realized that he wasn't in a sitting position. He had been left on the cold, hard, ground by whoever had kidnapped him.

So, he lay there. Of course, he could have tried to break out of his bonds, in fact, it most likely would have been easy for him to do so, he had superhuman strength after all. Whenever he had been captured in the past, it had taken a little more than a tug, and whatever had been restricting his movements, would have fallen to the ground. Armed with his experience however, he decided to show restraint and hold off. Whomever had captured him, wasn't a nobody and he needed to know who it was, and why, before he broke out.

So, he lay there. It was getting colder as the seconds passed, but that wasn't a problem for him. He had been in worse situations as a SOLDIER. After three or so hours, he heard a heavy metal door open. The sound startled him as the hours of silence were pierced by the sound.

After the sound stopped, he heard two sets of footsteps. They sounded like they were stepping in shallow mud, which told him that the stone-like surface he currently lay on, didn't cover the entire ground. By that metric, he was quite lucky.

- Is that him?

The voice was familiar to him. He remembered hearing it, right before that blasted parasite was forced into his skull.

- Is this how you store your most valuable asset?

He spoke again, and Zack almost gasped. He hadn't been able to recognize him before, but he did now. That voice could belong to no other than Tsang.

- Well, he served his purpose, didn't he Mr. Suwabe? – an older voice, that Zack immediately recognized as Grigori, spoke

It was at that point, that Zack cursed himself. He knew that he shouldn't have trusted Tsang, when he had offered him his help. He knew that if a Turk did something, it was because either they had something to gain from it or were ordered to do it. Zack just hoped that it was the prior, rather than the latter. While he had been a SOLDIER, he had learned a great deal, but one thing that had stood out, were the lengths to which the secret organization, that answered directly to the president of the power company, would go to achieve their objectives. No matter how morally wrong, or straight up evil they might be.

- I don't not remember saying that Grigori. – Tsang said in a serious tone

- And I don't remember needing to listen to you anymore. The deal is done. I did my part. I repaid you. – Grigori spoke as he raised his voice, as much as someone his age could

- Our Lord doesn't agree with that. In fact, that is the reason I am here. The death was supposed to be public and performed in front of an audience. What good does it do if there were no witnesses? Do you know how much additional trouble you have made me, and my team go through? – Tsang asked

- What were they taking about? – was the only question that Zack could ask himself. What did it matter, where and how Sephiroth was killed? He was dead. Was there a plot that Tsang was involved in, that sought to use his death for some sort of political gain? If he could, he would have held out for longer, but that last bit, made him say to himself that enough was enough.

With a tug on his restraints, the cuffs that held his hands together broke and the rope around his legs, were no longer an issue. The moment his hands were free, he took off the blindfold that was over his eyes and looked at where the sound of the two figures speaking, was coming from.

Just as he had suspected earlier, he was in a cave of some sort. Or at least a room in a cave. A heavy-duty metal door prevented anyone who didn't have the key, to get in or out.

And, as expected, before him stood Grigori and Tsang. The prior had a surprised expression on his face. Whether it was because he didn't expect Zack to be able to control his own body, or because he had expected him to be unconscious for longer, didn't matter. Tsang on the other hand, looked suspiciously calm and collected. As if he had been expecting that. Before Zack could react, and cast a spell to kill the two people, who had caused him so much pain, he found himself unable to move again.

A circle of dark energy, formed below him and from it, strings of magic extended to his knees, wrists, and neck. No matter how much strength he used, to try and break out of the spell, he couldn't and seconds after, he was forced to his knees, into a submissive pose with his hands behind his back, his knees spread from one another and his head looking up at a 45 ° angle.

- What is happening... to me...? – Zack asked through clenched teeth

He knew that Tsang was incapable of such magic. It required years of training and even then, it was a spell that even him, an ex-SOLDIER who was quite proficient at magic, couldn't cast.

Silence overtook the room. Grigori's mouth was wide open, indicating that he was just as surprised as Zack, at the way everything was unfolding. Tsang, on the other hand, just turned to his left, towards the heavy metal door and keeled on one knee.

- Grigori, you will obey, for as long as I desire. And as such, I declare your life forfeit.

A very distinct voice spoke. A voice that made Zack freeze. There was and always will be, a singular being, that could channel such power and such evil in his voice. His name need not be mentioned.

- Both life and death serve a purpose. My death, served as a message to everyone in Midgar, that Wutai is not to be trusted. And that their entire empire is a threat. As such, I will have everyone's support to lead a war against them. Unfortunately for you, Grigori, your death will serve no purpose.

As soon as these words left the devil's lips, the entire room lit up and agonizing screams, could be heard from Grigori. His entire body was set on fire. He screamed and screamed, while the flames completely consumed him, both inside and out, until he screamed no more, and the ex-leader of the Loyalists was nothing more than a scorched skeleton on the ground.

- Leave us. – the voice, whose owner still hadn't entered the room ordered.

Tsang stood up and exited the room. And then, he entered. Tall, immaculate, and powerful. As he always was, with a silver mane following behind him.

Zack could only stare in disbelief. The man who he clearly remembered killing, was not just alive, but was also taunting him. From the moment Zack heard Sephiroth's voice, outside the room, he knew that he was the author of his nightmares.

It all made sense. Him meeting Tsang was not a coincidence. From the moment when he found out that his friend Gail, whom he had never actually seen, was Tsang, he should have realized that it was all a scheme. Too bad that at the time, he was more than desperate. And from what had just transpired before him, it was quite clear that the Loyalists were dancing to Sephiroth's tune as well, albeit not directly.

- How are you still alive? – Zack asked. To say that he was surprised, would have been an understatement

- It would take longer than it is appropriate to explain, but let us just say, that it was the last of my replacements that you struck down. – Sephiroth replied smugly

- Then... it was you! – Zack asked in a tone that was both desperate and angry at the same time

- Of course, Zackary. It was always me. I ordered Tsang to replace your dear friend, who tried to help you when you needed it the most. I was the one who was behind the creation of the Loyalists and giving Grigori a second chance. One that he wasted, as matter of fact. – Sephiroth replied as he stood in front of Zack and looked down at him

- That means... that it was you who ordered the attack on Nibelheim. You are the one who had Aeris kidnapped and had the whole town burned to the ground! – Zack replied, with as much anger as he could muster, given his weakened state

- A necessary action, albeit one that was a bit distasteful to me. She had to forget you, Zackary. If my plan were to work.

- Aeris... Why... Why her? Why do all of this? What do you gain from Aeris' suffering? I don't care about me and what you made me do, but why her? Why did she do to you? Why are you destroying her mind? I can't even begin to comprehend you.

Tears were pooling up in Zack's eyes. Her life had been hell, ever since Sephiroth kidnapped her, however long ago that was. He himself had just gotten to the point where the happy memories he had shared with Aeris were starting to fade.

- If my nature had been made to suit your comprehension rather than my own requirements, I am afraid I would have made a very poor figure in the world. The reason, Zackary, is because I need her. Originally, it was just because of her connection to the white materia. I needed to keep her next to me, so that the white materia can serve its purpose. But, as I spent time with her, I realized that I also need her. To this day, I still haven't figured out the reason, why I like to see her on her knees before me, more than any other woman.

Throughout the entire monologue, Zack could only stare in disbelief. Sephiroth was truly out of his mind. Or perhaps, and that was the scarier option, it was completely the opposite. Either way, what he was currently witnessing, was the real Sephiroth. Not the impostor that had been his friend, however long ago that was.

And now, he would rule the entire world. Zack knew full well, that Wutai had no chance against Sephiroth. It wasn't going to be a war, but a bloodbath. And for those who would be left alive, would most likely be either tortured to death, or be turned into slaves. Two equally horrible deaths.

Meanwhile, Midgar would grow rich, and its entire population would rave about having Sephiroth as their Emperor. And Aeris? Aeris would most likely be an Empress with no power. Or, at the very least, no power, for her to do as she saw fit with. And that would be that. He had won.

- And what would you do with all that power? – Zack asked, knowing full well that the words that had just left his mouth, may very well be his last

- Save us. Save humanity. Yes, sacrifices were and will be necessary, but without the true power of materia, there will be no future for Gaia and no future for us. There is no other like our planet. And whenever the tragic day comes, when we have to leave her for the stars, with sadness in our hearts, we will leave in order to survive. But if I do not do what is necessary now, said future will never exist, and the entire planet, will fall into a pit of sloth. – Sephiroth spoke in a voice, cold as ice

- And, why you? Why this way? – Zack asked

- Oh, do not ask me that. You know why Zackary. Because everyone else is busy arguing, debating, and fighting each other. There is only one true way to unite everyone, and that is under a single leader. Look at the past, look how much we achieved during the time of kings, tsars, and emperors. Look around nowadays. Governments can barely function. Meanwhile, private organizations, propel the world forward. Do you know why that is? It is because they have a clear focus, and do not waste time in senseless debates.

In a split second, Zack felt pain, like he never had before, and after blinking he saw the Masamune, materialized in Sephiroth's hand.

- Good and evil do not exist. Only intents and actions, coming from different perspectives. What is evil for some, is holy for others. I have committed atrocities, I know, believe me I do. People speak sometimes about the "bestial" cruelty of man, but that is terribly unjust and offensive to beasts, no animal could ever be so cruel as a man, so artfully, so artistically cruel. And I know I am. But some things must be done, no matter the cost.

The magic around Zack disappeared and Sephiroth lifted him in the air, using the Masamune, that was going through his chest. Then, Sephiroth recited:

We see the Planet through a viewport now.

The way a daughter would miss her mother, we miss the planet - there is no other. And the stars are getting closer but remain as cold. Just like in the time of eclipse, we seek the light and dream of the Planet's dreams.

And dream we not of a thunderous spaceport, not of the icy azure. We're dreaming of the grass outside our homes, the green, green grass.

And we fly orbits, through untouched paths, embroidering the space with meteors. The risk and bravery are justified.

In dim smoke, Gaia is the light. Sunset mingled with sunrise. The daughter is missing her mother, the mother is waiting for her daughter, and so is Gaia.