That night, no one rested easy, if they rested at all. All of them had a lot resting on the outcome of tomorrow's battle. Their freedom, or lives, the future of their worlds, and many others. All this, and very likely more, would be decided on the battle.
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That night, Shadow didn't rest easy. She kept thinking about what the strange dragon, the very one who tried to killer, had told her. Jenova meant to have her, for better or worse. There was no way she could refuse the challenge, yet it scared her. Every time she fought, she remembered what she had left behind. Her family, her friends, her school, and now, it seemed, her hopes. She could never return to her world as she was. For the rest of her life she'd be studied, or hunted, or watched, or something else. Her world was hers no longer. Her parents would never know what happened to their daughter. The one kidnapped out of chemistry class. It was enough to make her realize how much she had stated to miss those chemistry experiments, the teacher's boring lectures, and even the ten hours of homework she had all the time.
What had once been a majestic dream to her, had become an eternal nightmare. She had seen dragons and wizards, warriors and magic. But at what price? Now she had no where to fit in. And in the back of her mind, always there, was the link to the brothers. It was quiet tonight. Shadow wasn't sure if the two were speaking, or sleeping, but it didn't matter. She needed the time to herself.
She watched the moon overhead. "I don't know anything anymore. But if there is a god of magic, or a guardian of dragons, please help me. I want to go home…"
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Not too far away, and yet miles away, Sephiroth and his brother sat together. "How long has it been brother? How long since the two of use where free like this?"
Sefiroth shook his head. "A very long time. I always though that the only way to free you from Jenova would be to kill you. I am glad Shadow gave me another way…"
"As am I. I never meant to hurt you, or any one else. But when the madness came upon me, I had no choice. Like you, I thought my only escape would be death. Sometimes I think it would have been better had I died. Then you would not have my shadow hanging over you…"
"Never say that brother! You have no idea how much I have enjoyed our time together. I only wish there were some way I could repay Shadow for what she did. Besides, even had you died, I would have still carried the burden of guilt. Cloud hates me, as he hates you. Perhaps given time…"
"Perhaps brother, but I doubt it…"
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Cloud and Tifa were alone. The elder of the village had given them a hut of their own to use that night. "Tifa, about what's happened, I'm sorry…"
"Sorry? For what?"
"For what's happened. If only I had killed him when I had the chance. Then the two of us wouldn't be in this situation…"
"Don't ever say that Cloud! You're strong because of your beliefs. Had you killed Sefiroth when you were given the chance, you would have killed an innocent man. I know we're having a hard time adjusting, but still… Had you killed him, you'd be no better than Sephiroth, or Jenova!"
"You're right Tifa. Thanks. Sometimes it's hard to tell which side is right…"
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Vincent was sitting outside, watching the sky. Deep within him he could feel Jenova's power deep within him. And his ultimate form was always waiting to break out. Once he had let it loose. And that scared him. Nothing had ever scared Vincent like that before. But when he became that form buried deep within him…
"I know what it's like. Once Jenova discovered what Hojo had done, she repeated his experiment on me. The greatest power is the one you have the least control over. I have the same problem. The hydra is the strongest form I dare use, but not the only one…"
"As Chaos is for me. But why you?"
"She could not bear to do it to the one she called son. In some ways Jenova is just as disillusioned as the rest of us. She truly believes that Sephiroth is her son. No matter how hard she tries, she refuses to see the truth. But dose anyone know the truth of their father…?"
"It is Hojo…"
"No. It cannot be Hojo. Do you know how I know this?"
"No. And I do not care. Hojo is their father. He told me as much. He told me as he cut off my hand, and placed the withering mass of Jenova over the stump that had been my arm. He told me as he injected me with Jenova cells and Mako. He told me even as he left me to my fate under the other doctor…"
"He told you these things because he did not want you to know the truth. How could that withered old toad of a man ever give life to those two warriors?"
"I do not know. But if not Hojo, then who…?"
"I do not know. But I do know Shinra, and the evil they are capable of. Hojo had no respect for anyone except himself. To bring pain, that was his greatest joy. Or perhaps, like Jenova, he too believed a lie. It doses not matter. I can only tell you what I know. Hojo didn't, couldn't, father those children. Because Hojo could never father a child…"
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Lucca was sitting on the edge of the bed. Chrono and Nadia had stepped out a while ago, and had yet to return. "It's going to seem so strange without you, Robo. I valued your friendship a lot. I know when we stopped Lavos, we changed the future. I only hope that future included you…"
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Nadia and Chrono were walking about the village. Neither one was saying anything. They were both worried. Finally, Chrono broke the silence. "You know, we may not survive tomorrow…"
"I know Chrono. I still remember the first time we came face to face with Lavos. You gave your life to save us. Without Magnus's help…"
"I know. But even if he won't admit it, Magnus has come to like us, just as we like him. I would have been surprised if he had refused to come tomorrow. More than any of us, Magnus has a dept to re-pay to Lavos. He lost more than any of us to that creature…"
"You're right. You always were good at cheering me up Chrono. Thanks…"
"You're welcome Nadia."
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Shrouded in darkness, Magnus starred at the moon. "Tomorrow I shall avenge you, Shala, my sister. You gave your life to save me, twice. It is ironic that I cannot save you even once. I can only defeat your killer. And that I shall do…"
A cat came up, and sat on Magnus's lap. He began to pet it. "Alfredo, my friend. How good it is to see you. Even though all this time has past, you still remember me…"
Alfredo began to purr. With his only family member left, Magnus continued his thinking, seeking an answer to a long forgotten problem…/FONT/BODY
