Part 3- The Quest for the Phoenix
Chapter 9- The Legend of the Phoenix
The engine of the plane slowed to a quiet sputter as it descended swiftly though the thick cloud cover. Landing gear prepared, Cid skillfully notched down the navigation devices in a smooth and effortless descent. Soon the wheels were taxiing along the ground as Cid threw the rocket switch and slowed the plane. It glided to a smooth stop on the rocky plains near the military outpost of Fort Condor. They dismounted with care, Cid helping Sephirah with her heavy leather satchel.
"There it is!" Cid shrugged, pointing west at the tall and forbidding steel structure in the distance. Sephirah nodded gratefully as she took in her surroundings, staring wistfully through the distances at the bare rock cliffs and scarce vegetation. She turned to Cid with a loving smile.
"Thank you ever so much..." she smiled as she give him a quick hug. Distressed and embarrassed by her display of affection, Cid squirmed away. "... You're welcome anytime, Shera would say. Well, I'm goin' back to Rocket Town, so I'll probably be back here for ya in a few weeks." Without even saying a real goodbye, Cid jumped back into the pilot seat of the Tiny Bronco, and with a stiff military salute and a rare smile, took off into the clouded sky. Sephirah sighed in resignation. There was no turning back now...
The heavy wind tossed her sky blue dress playfully with its delicate hands, whispering tenderly in her ear as it whisked by, laughing in its fun. Its swift fingers ran freely through her silken hair, whipping it out from where it was tucked securely behind her ear. The long sliver strands whipped across her face, slapping her rosy cheeks gently with their great lengths. She sighed and strolled on, climbing the shallow rocks until she reached the very summit of the Mountain of the Condor. And there stood the entrance of the age worn fort that fought beside her father for independence.
At the end of a path a guard stood, forehead wrapped in an orange military headband, yet still not managing to restrain his thick dark bangs from falling into his eyes as he watched her approach gingerly. He was still rather young, the son of a warrior who had once fought here to protect the mighty Condor and the Mako Reactor. He was dressed in tattered and stained clothes, yet he wore them proudly- head and back posture erect- as he coolly watched her proceed towards him.
"Well, here's a pretty one this time..." he muttered under his breath. Sephirah turned, not quite catching his words.
"What?" she inquired innocently.
"Umm... Nothing!" said the teenage guard, perking up. "Welcome to Fort Condor, Miss. Who are you?"
"Well, uh..." Sephirah panicked in dismay. What could she say that wouldn't give her away? Her brain racked itself quickly, searching for an idea... "Hi! I'm Erika, a reporter from a magazine in Costa Del Sol. I'm here to-research the legendary Phoenix that has been sighted here!!" she blurted out suddenly. The boy eyed her suspiciously for a moment... then shrugged.
"Whatever," he sighed, "Go on ahead. Just another person here to try their luck with the Phoenix..." With a grunt of exertion, he yanked open the heavy door, motioning for her to pas through. She walked shyly by, turning to thank the teen before she disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel. Bobbing her head politely, she whisked around to enter the tunnel... and he hailed her.
"Oh, by the way, Miss Erika, that's a nice sword you've got there... I suppose you've gotta fend off those men, eh?" he winked at her and laughed as she hastened her retreat down the tunnel. Her face was scarlet in embarrassment and fear. She almost got caught... if they suspected... She held her breath and pretended not to worry.
The thin margin of daylight left in the tunnel receded slowly from her vision, instead replaced by the dim glare of lanterns fastened to the walls. Her long hair gleamed under the low lighting, seeming as if it were dancing with the tiny flickering shadows of the flames. Soon, she could see the end of the tunnel, a small iron door with a steel knocker and a small barred window hole through which streamed noise and brighter light. The smell of smoke leaked through, along with the roaring laughter of grown men. Shyly, her hand rose to the doorknocker, and inhaling deeply, she released it. The heavy metal ring clattered against the door, creaking with rust as it swung and echoed eerily against the rock walls. Silence reigned from inside, as the door creaked slowly open. She was bathed in a blinding light, from which she winced and shielded her eyes with a slender hand. A figure was leaning in the doorway, and he roared with laughter. Sephirah's eyes focused upon his broad and stocky form, his height dwarfing her easily in his shadow.
"Hmm... we don't see many women 'round these parts these days!" he grunted. "Come on in!"
Sephirah stepped reluctantly into the Fort, the air wreathed with cigarette smoke and fouled with the smell of liquor. Her nose wrinkled naturally in disgust as the stench of drunken men filled her nostrils. The men roared with crazed laughter as one tottered unsteadily up to her.
"Whatcha doin' here, huh?" he leered at her, inspecting her with a sneer as she smoothed her satin dress icily. "Hmm... you come to 'play' wit' us? Well, if you want to..." he laughed cruelly as she backed away. He advanced on her with a crooked smile as her hand flew swiftly to her marbled white sword belt. She whipped out the Masamune, the blade dancing wickedly in her hands, out of control as it taunted and jeered at her opponent.
"That's a rather large sword for a pretty little girl. Perhaps you should give it to a real man and get out of here while you still can..." another leering drunk stepped up to her, drawing a knife. "Now, if you know what's good for you..."
"Stop it!" a hoarse voice cried.
The men turned suddenly, frightened. "Sir, no, we didn't really mean anything..."
"Beat it!" the voice snarled angrily. The men fled down the ladders and back to their quarters without any hesitation. "Sheath that sword, woman," the voice was gentle but firm as the slim figure emerged from the darkness of a rocky overhang. He was middle-aged yet still lithe and strong, as her eyes observed. A cunning glint in his eyes gave her the impression of one wise of military tactics. She knew instantly that this man was the commander of the army of which tales were told and her father and mother had once fought for so many years ago. Her sword met the hardened leather sheath automatically as she greeted him with a handshake and a smile.
"You hafta be careful there, young un. My men don't mean no harm, but ya still gotta watch your back in case they git drunk," his slang and heavy accent were strange upon her ears, but she shrugged it off of her mind courteously. His hand met hers firmly as his eyes danced with welcome. She knew that he was a kind a gentle man when she studied at his eyes... cunning and wise, yet soft and weak for women.
His blue eyes seemed to laugh as he looked her up and down. "Well, Miss, ya must be purty strong to git up the hills. What's yer business here?"
"Well... my name is Erika Leigh, a magazine reporter from Costa Del Sol. I'm researching the legendary phoenix so they recommended that I take the ship to Junon and travel here..."
"The Phoenix? You're just in luck them, ma'am!" he laughed heartily as he interrupted her. "One more day and you'da missed it!"
"What do you mean," inquired 'Erika' of the man.
His face grew grave quickly, the smile disappearing from his weary face as he began his story. "I see that ya don't know much about our fort, but that's ok. If ya'd like, I'll explain the Legend of the Phoenix, which is made of rumors gathered from our ancestors," he took a deep breath before beginning.
"Most people norm'ly come here to research the creature, yet most don't never catch sight of our firebird. Once every, say, 18 years, the condors for which our fort was named and is famous for lay and hatch their eggs. There are only two each time and fer some reason, the numbers never change. As the eggshells burst suddenly, the force and energy exerted by the hatchlings causes the parents to catch fire. One condor'll die, and the other'll morph into a Phoenix as its feathers burn. If the male is the bird who passes on, the female is gentle and will peacefully grant the wishes of those who approach it without evil in their minds. If the female dies, the male'll go berserk and be extremely violent, attacking all intruders in its way. So... if the male is reborn, hide! The Phoenix only lives for about 24 hours, which is more than enough time fer its fast wings to take it to the Junon sea in the middle continent, ya know, the one that lies in the huge crater-like basin. It must reach the sea before its feathers are extinguished for it to die in peace. It'll sink into the sea, where it can find eternal rest after reverting back into the form of the condor. Fer some reason, those waters have always been sacred to the condors, perhaps where hatred and sorrow is purged from their minds... The hatchlings're always one male, one female. The young will then raise themselves, mate, and repeat the cycle. It takes about 18 years for the condors to mature from birth," the man looked obviously concerned about the condors and the well being of the firebird that the fort treasured so carefully. Sephirah's heart stirred with pity, yet she knew what she would have to do; she knew where her fate was to guide her... and so from her lips escaped a tiny sigh, a sigh of regret and loneliness, sorrow and hopelessness, filled with unshed tears, untold stories... so she nodded.
"I understand," she replied gravely after a reflective pause. "May I watch the hatching begin?" she inquired. He nodded in agreement, and gestured towards another iron door set in the wall of a small room that overlooked the steep mountainside. "Right through there, if ya want to go..." his eyes squeezed tensely shut as his head bowed. "I don't have the heart to watch it anymore. I'm sorry, but I can't go with ya..." he turned away in time to avoid her seeing a small teardrop leaking down his tanned and rough cheek. Solemn, she placed a gentle hand on his arm and gave him a smile.
"I understand. Well, I better be going up now!" She took a step towards the door, the thrill of fear running down her spine, causing her to shiver in anticipation... So she ran to the iron gates before her sensible mind overtook her body and forced her to turn back. She bounded swiftly up the stairs to the top of the tower as the commander stood, watching the shadows where she had disappeared.
"May god go with you, Erika..." he muttered as he took a seat.
The was one thing he forgot to tell her... The answers to all of her problems lay on a tiny parchment that hung suspended from the strong rocky walls, slightly yellowed by age, a scroll written upon the scientific discovery of the Phoenix, over 40 years previous:
"The words of the wise man of this fort are inspiring, and for that reason, I decided to record them. Although they contradict all that Shinra's science stands for, I was asked by the elders of this place to put them into writing:
"The bird of fire, known as the Phoenix to those who believe in the mythological world, can grant one wish during its lifetime before it lays to rest in the heaving seas. The wish can only be one of resurrection, neither one of riches nor power. The one who wishes can only revive one who he or she really loves who has passed away, and must have died of unnatural causes. The Phoenix will resurrect the being, as well as purge his or her soul of hatred and evil.
"But when the Phoenix lays slain by an object of man, it will transform itself into what is known as a Dark Phoenix, whose blackened feathers give life, but slowly destroy the remaining light in the soul of the resurrected, replacing it gradually with pure evil. Very few beings, in fact, it is probable that only the powerful light of the Ancients can withstand the darkness. Though they will not be consumed by it, they will become extremely fragile from the loss of the strength that comes with their former purity.
-Professor Gast, Biologist"
Chapter 10- Phoenix's Down
The light clinking of her boots upon the hollow metal steps echoed through the long coils of the staircase as Sephirah climbed steadily upwards, readying herself for the upcoming battle. The ascent of the steep tower became difficult and painful as she continued to climb, yet her body was numb to the pain of her stiffened muscles. Her heart was set, her face determined, her eyes... her eyes betrayed her mind. Fear... she was afraid... afraid of the Phoenix, afraid of the consequences of her actions... afraid of life itself.
She panted tiredly as she reached the summit of the mountain, waiting at the iron-plated end of the staircase to catch her breath before she faced her greatest challenge... to kill a god.
The iron barred window hole in the door streamed light upon her in strips, making her feel imprisoned, caged off from the world. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and threw her weight against the door old rusted door. To her surprise, it opened easily under the force and she fell sprawling to the ground. She groaned and looked up. Seeing the condors not more than 20 feet from her she gasped and drew back. Spotting a large hunk of heavy twisted metal debris, she dove swiftly behind it, careful to avoid the sharp shrapnel and rubble that littered the cement. Luckily, the great birds had their backs towards her and had not even noticed her presence. A small eyehole was drilled into the rusted and moss-covered metal, obviously for the purposes she was using it for.
"So I'm not the first to watch through here," she thought as she kept an eye on the condors, "Well, all the more convenient for me!" she muttered. She held her breath fearfully as the male condor turned towards her, suspicious and alert. Seeing nothing out of place, he spread his powerful wingspan as a warning to whatever lay out there and resumed vigil over his offspring. Sephirah sighed in silent relief, her blood pounding like hammers in her ears.
After a short while, a light tapping sound could be heard in the silence of the roof, followed by a thudding of beaks as a thin hairline crack began to spread its way across the eggs. The rhythmic tapping continued, accelerating gradually until the cracks covered the surface of the eggshells...
The condor parents leaned forward curiously, waiting eagerly for their children to emerge from amongst the shells...
A fatal mistake.
With a sudden and amazingly powerful burst of pure energy, the twin eggs exploded upon their parent, sending them flying back. Bright flames licked the feathers eagerly in the morning sky, consuming the adult birds savagely...
A wild shriek ripped madly through the air, causing Sephirah to flinch and cover her ears. Raw pain surged with the flames in the birds...
Sephirah squeezed her eyes shut against the blinding fury of the flash of light that followed...
After a few moments, she reopened them fearfully, peering through the tiny drilled hole with apprehension.
The Phoenix!
"Firebird" was far too tame of a description for the glory of the beast. Perhaps the discoverers of the creature could not possibly find words for the wild beauty either.
Golden-red feathers cascaded richly over its back in moving patterns, ruffled by the ever so light breeze. The bright glare of the flames began to disperse, replaced by the iridescent sheen of the quills as they glowed, bathed in sheer power. The soft gilded gold of its downy body ruffled majestically, jointing the brilliant fiery hues of the wings and pinions with an amazing clash of colors and a swirl of crimson. The long sweeping tail formed an elegant train behind the slim and graceful body, forming a spectrum of colors, streaming like spilled ink running its way across wet paper. A distinct light radiated powerfully from its form, a light gentle in its glory, yet fierce and wild, untamed by man. The sharp talons were of shimmering silver, glimmering in the dimmed sunlight that streamed lazily through the clouds. The claws that could take life as well as its feathers give it. The gold-plated beak opened in a shrill cry, a scream of grief and rage as the male bird crouched sorrowfully over the battered and bloody carcass of the female condor, his mate. The silver talons clenched tightly in fury among the charred and blackened feathers...
The firebird screeched, throwing its crested head to the sky, a cry of pure grief and rage unchecked. A cry that shocked Sephirah with its power, a cry that must've been heard at the ends of the Planet. Not unlike the one she had heard at the death of her mother with Sephiroth... She shivered with a cold that wasn't present in the warm zephyr behind the shielding steel.
The Phoenix, saddened by the loss, spread its mighty wingspan in an array of colors, a final tribute to the one he loved. The spectrum of bright light caught Sephirah by surprise, filling her eyes with the glaring whitewash of the blow. She closed her eyes just in time, yet not fast enough. She opened them but could not see; panicked, she rose unsteadily to her feet.
The Phoenix turned in its mighty bloodlust, and spotting her, swooped in to attack...
Sephirah, in her weakness, was unable even to dodge the onslaught...
The Phoenix caught her directly in the stomach, winding her as it sent her reeling to the floor at the edge of the tall tower. With a cry of triumph, the Phoenix angrily mocked its opponent as she sat up dizzily, eyes watering painfully in an attempt to clear them. Her sight was blurred, yet she could see the faint form of the bright bird of life and she brandished her sword threateningly.
The phoenix attacked, slashing with its lethal beak as her face while clawing with its talons. Sephirah parried with the blade, distressed by the fierce attack as she was driven back. Her heel struck the curb at the edge, shocking her and striking terror into her heart. Looking down in fear, she checked her balance and steadied her legs.
A terrible mistake.
Seeing his enemy open, the Phoenix dove powerfully at her unprotected legs, striking her full force. With a scream of shock, she flew off the edge of the tower and into the sky.
Grappling in a frenzy for something to save her, she closed her eyes and flailed her arms during her fall. Time seemed to suspend itself as her sensitive fingers brushed something soft, and grabbing frantically, she clung desperately to the object.
A sharp scream of pain emitted from her buoy.
The long and elegant tail of the phoenix came to its disadvantage as it swooped above her falling form. Hanging from it was the surprised Sephirah, hugging the fiery feathers tightly to her chest with the sword still gripped in her white-knuckled left hand.
The bird screamed in rage and clawed mercilessly at her head and arms. Sephirah gasped as the sharp talons ripped through her skin, drawing blood. Her grip weakening drastically, Sephirah struggled to cling to the bird as they spiraled slowly lower to the ground while heading steadily west from the great height. Completely drained, Sephirah prayed feverently as she flew like lightning over the thick foliage of the Junon forests. With a deep breath, she spent her remaining strength in a savage upward blow, the steel of the sword, ripping through flesh and bone alike.
The piercing scream of the Phoenix rented sharply through the thick forests, small animals fleeing into their homes in fright.
The Phoenix's eyes dimmed in death... the light dispersed and floated away from the dying feathers, leaving the body as black as charcoal. The great wings, now a deep purplish-blue, folded in death as the two figures began their long plummet towards the forest floor. Sephirah passed out in fear as her hand separated weakly from the bird, her limp form falling at an exponential rate.
***
Yuffie Kisaragi was in the mood for adventure. After the death of her father, Godo, she felt obliged to journey the world again, as she did when she was a young ninja, leaving her boyfriend, Tanaka, in charge during her absence. Years of life had provided for her experience and strength as well as some much needed wisdom. The entire party had agreed that she had changed from the wild and wayward ninja, becoming rather mild and mannered, polite and courteous to visitors of her hometown. No longer known as a petty thug, she had now earned the true title of 'Materia Hunter,' full of potential and a longing for adventure instead of greed.
Perhaps Yuffie's surface had changed... yet deep inside she had remained the wild rowdy girl she had been 18 years previous during her adventures with Cloud and their friends.
"Revisiting old terrain is nice," she thought wryly. "This is right where I met Cloud that first day... I'll never forget that!! I was so overconfident... Well, a ninja must learn modesty and virtue as well as strength and agility. I'll never forget the way you taught me that... Father..." Yuffie bowed her head in honor of his memory. "Maybe someday I'll be as wise a ruler for Wutai as you once were," A tear glimmered from within the dark lashes that hid the large innocent eyes that masked the cunning and stealthy teenager that remained within.
A blood-curling scream ripped through her senses, causing her to look up frightfully. Whipping her head about in a fearful frenzy, her short black hair blew back from her tanned face as she leapt from her skillful perch in the tall tree. She ran from branch to branch as gracefully as any squirrel ever could, approaching a tiny clearing where the grasses grew tall and dry and waved peacefully in the wind. Seeing a shadow cast over the land, she looked up to inspect, shielding her eyes with a skillful hand. With a gasp of shock, she recognized a humanoid figure through the glare of the sun... and something else. Using all of her strength in her calves, she sprang from the tree branch, hearing it snap behind her legs from the incredible burst of strength, and dove for the figure, catching it barely in her arms. It struck her square in the chest, winding her completely as she fell to the ground, trying to land on her feet. Instead, her tired legs could not hold the immense impact and she fell back on her behind with a painful bump.
"Ow!!!" Yuffie cried, rubbing her behind ruefully. "That hurt!!" she muttered. "So who's this here...?" she turned over the unconscious figure with interest, gasping in shock as the arm flopped across the body, revealing the familiar face to the ninja woman. Yuffie laid the girl on the grass, backing off in shock as she recognized the girl... and just dodged in time as the body of the Phoenix landed where she was standing, slowly evaporating into a fine black dust that blew away, swirling in the howling winds. Yuffie blanched at the stench of fresh blood and quickly knelt by the girl.
"Oh my gawd... Sephirah! Can you hear me?!" she screamed. "Oh, no! Child, you must live!" Yuffie's heart raced in fear. She had to get the child to a hospital. She slung the limp body over her shoulder with a grunt of exertion and raced off through the trees. Her sharp eyes caught an object fluttering to the floor, as well as a small black sphere lying in the grass. Bending swiftly, she retrieved the charcoal black feather, from which no light reflected, and placed it in Sephirah's coat pocket. Sneakily, she pocketed the orb and set off into the undergrowth briskly.
"Perhaps she'll want that when she wakes up," she thought. "Now on to Junon!! Reeve has got to be there... maybe he can help!"
Chapter 11- Trails of Blood
It was a completely exhausted Yuffie that reached the peaceful town of Junon harbor late that night, warm fresh blood that was not her own trickling slowly down her back as she emerged from the waving nighttime shadows of the forest. Panting as she rested at the city gates, she screamed in a hoarse voice to the sky:
"CAIT SITH!!!! GET THE HELL OVER HERE!!!" The entire town woke from its peaceful slumber, glaring at her panicked form grumpily as a fluffy white stuffed moogle bounced its way cheerily up the path.
"What is it, Yuffie? People are trying to- Holy moley!! She okay?!" The cat perched on top the doll gasped in innocent horror, bringing its tiny paws up to its loud-mouthed face.
Yuffie glared furiously at him. "What does it look like you stupid cat?! Go get some help, dammit!"
"Hurry!! We need help! Medical emergency! Priscilla!" The cat raised his megaphone towards the uncertain citizens as one young woman in particular bounded down the long wooden flights of stairs, swinging down the banisters. The light brown hair framed her face as she leaned over the unconscious girl. She placed a hand over her chest and her ear near the mouth. She lifted her hand from the chest, feeling something sticky and gasped in terror.
"Blood! She's still breathing... but barely! And look at those scratches..." she turned to Yuffie, eyes blazing. "What did you do to her?!"
"Calm down!! It's hard to explain... I found her in the forest and I brought her here..." Yuffie was puzzled.
"How did this happen then?" Priscilla snapped.
"I-I don't know!!" Yuffie tried to explain. "She fell from the sky and-"
"Oh, enough of the excuses! We've got to get her to the inn! Help me!!" Priscilla lifted Sephirah's legs with a grunt as Yuffie supported the shoulders. They backed slowly into a lighted house where an old woman was present in the doorway.
"W-Why, what happened here?!" was the woman's wide-eyed response.
"Mrs. Johnston, you've got to help me!! She's badly injured..." Priscilla pleaded.
The old woman nodded gravely. "Now that is obvious, dear, but I don't know if I can help... We need to bring her up to Junon's hospital!"
Cait Sith nodded and touched a button on his microphone. "Medical emergency, ER stand ready!" They heard voices through the static and knew to proceed.
"Hurry before it's too late!" the elderly lady urged. Yuffie tried to rise to her feet and help, but she found she couldn't. She passed out like a light on the couch, unable to move at all. Cait Sith then handled the situation, picking up Sephirah in his soft mechanical paws and bounding across the town to the emergency elevator. Streams of crimson blood began to ooze over the doll's plush, staining it a dark shade of scarlet...
***
"Whaddaya mean she 'was' here?!" Cloud slammed his sturdy fist forcefully on the Highwind's living room table, which luckily, was composed of solid oak. Papers flew about with powerful sweeps of his gloved hand, scattering around the already cluttered room. Tifa put a hand on his shoulder solemnly, trying to calm his rage without redirecting it towards her.
"Whoa, man! Calm down! Your girl's alright!" Cid jumped up from his seat on the couch, surprised. "I left 'er at Fort Condor. She said she had some research to do..."
"So you left my young daughter with a bunch of drunken fools?!" Cloud fumed between his teeth.
"Cloud, she's a grown woman... Perhaps it's time you let her take care of herself," Shera said gently.
"Honey... Sephirah knows how to fight... she took the Masamune with her too..." Tifa shivered at the sinister name as it rolled off her tongue. "Perhaps we have been treating her like a child?" Tifa soothed.
Cloud relaxed slightly, a feeling of security coming back to him as he paced, silence reigning the room. With out warning, the sharp wailing ring of the telephone ripped through their thoughts and jerked them back into reality. Cid groaned as he got up, reaching for the phone grumpily.
"Highwind residence, Cid speaking... What? He's right here... why?" Cid covered the receiver with his hand.
"Yo Cloud, it's for you," Cid shrugged as he surrendered the phone to the curious Cloud.
"Hello...?" said Cloud. "Reeve?! What's wrong?" Cloud's eyes widened as his skin paled visibly. "I understand... I'll be right over!" He hung the receiver up dazedly. Tifa put an anxious hand on his shoulder, eyes overflowing with concern.
"What's going on...?" she whispered, her voice breaking the hushed silence.
"It's Sephirah... they think... they say she could..." Cloud didn't get to finish the sentence before he lapsed into hysterical sobs, wracking through his body as he slumped against the wall, sliding to the floor. His eyes and fists were clenched in pain as he gritted his teeth in agony, cursing his now fragile heart.
Tifa rushed to him, falling to her knees on the floor in shock. "It can't be... what happened?" her voice was a soft whisper as she wrapped her arms protectively around Cloud's shaking form.
"Her injuries... he said... but... don't know... what happened..." Cloud hiccuped, unable to speak more than gasps of breath at a time.
A rare tear glimmered in Cid's blue-gray eyes. "Dammit! I shouldn't have left her alone there!" he swore angrily, slamming his fist hard onto the table. Shera wept hysterically, burying her face in Cid's shirt in shock.
"We've got to try somethin'!" cried Cid, jumping to his feet. "To the Highwind before it's too late!" The Tifa nodded, attempting to drag Cloud to his feet, finding he was quite heavy because of his muscular build. With a groan of exertion, she managed to pull him to his feet, leaning his weight against her shoulder as she tottered unsteadily out of the house.
"Need help?" A deep mysterious voice called them as they reached the arched gates of the house.
A shadow floated swiftly over their heads, causing them to stop in their tracks. A long scarlet cape filled the path, swirling gracefully around the tall figure. The long raven black hair glimmered gently in the channels of moonlight, streaming back towards them in untidy strands. As he turned and rose from his crouch, they already knew him before recognizing the pale pasty skin and the blood red eyes...
Vincent!
The sight of his mangled and twisted body was still familiar to their eyes, even though they hadn't seen much of him since the time Aerith had been laid to rest a final time. Many times, though, he had been watching them. Perhaps they didn't see him, but he was always there, watching their progress as growing humans like a hawk during the night. It was something for him to do with his painful existence... Mortals are the entertainment of those who cannot die...
Tifa nodded. "Of course, Vincent. We need all the help we can get, but I suppose you need to know what's going on first..."
Vincent approached her, his ghostly pale flesh and frighteningly beautiful eyes sending a shiver down her spine as his cold metal claw brushed her arm harmlessly. He hauled the unconscious Cloud over his shoulder effortlessly as he turned, flipping his cape back over a shoulder and following the Highwinds down the path towards their airship.
"Trust me, there's no need... I already know," he replied, his face as expressionless as steel as they boarded the airship grimly.
Chapter 12- Survival of the Fittest
Cloud paced the halls of the Junon Medical Center impatiently. Mind completely numbed, an empty look was spread across his beautiful blue eyes, a glowing mixture of clear cerulean and crisp navy that were devoid of all rational thought and sight. A nurse quietly entered the hallway form the operating room, carrying a clipboard tucked underneath her arm.
"Mr. Strife? ...Mr. Strife!!" she approached Cloud, catching him gently by the shoulder and shaking him out of the daze. It took a few moments before anything registered in his mind, then he jumped back suddenly in surprise. He turned the beautiful sapphire gaze upon her, the gems deeply clouded like ancient jade. He nodded in acknowledgement, unable to muster the strength to speak.
"Well, I must say that it was a miracle that she survived so far, Mr. Strife. You really ought to look out more carefully for her. I have no idea what happened... Apparently, no one does. When she was brought in, she was unconscious and bleeding profusely... Any normal person should've been dead on arrival, really. Perhaps fate wasn't quite ready to give up on her yet..." the nurse shook her head in amazement. "Well, anyway, the operation went well, and you can visit her tomorrow. First we require her to rest, and sir, I suggest you do that same," Cloud nodded absently. He sighed joyously in relief, sitting down with a tired slump on the nearby waiting room bench. The exhaustion and stress finally caught up with him, sending him off into a deep and peaceful slumber.
***
"Hey Cloud... I was sent to wake you up. I'm not sure if you should be lying there like that anyway..." Yuffie's voice seemed to come from a distance, the gentle shaking stirring him slowly from his sleep. He sat up slowly and yawned. A spasm of pain racked through his head and neck, causing him to groan with the throbbing pain.
"Feels as if I have a drunken hangover or something..." he smiled ruefully back at her. He looked around at the unfamiliar room, watching nurses rush past hurriedly in their meticulous white gowns. Where was he? And what was he doing here? Oh well, that didn't really matter for now... He sighed and grinned at Yuffie, rubbing his messy spikes until they fell in light blonde strands around his face, brushing the soft silken threads back from his eyes. Yuffie was astonished... Cloud looked surprisingly handsome! She had always wondered what al the other girls saw in him... Cloud noticed her gaping look and chuckled good-naturedly.
"Yeah, I don't keep it down much anymore... Aerith always said I should. What do you think?" he said with an amused smile.
"Y-Yeah... um... well, I was sent to tell you that Sephirah is in her hospital room... the doctor said he can allow family visitors only." she stammered nervously.
It was then that the memory dawned back upon Cloud's mind. "What?!"
"Yeah... they wheeled her in early yesterday morning, but you were so sleeping so peacefully..." she started, playing with her raven black hair nervously, praying for a good response.
"What do you mean?! How long have I been asleep...?" Cloud demanded.
"Um... the nurse says for about 36 hours... You were really exhausted!" Yuffie scratched her head guiltily as Cloud swore.
"I have to go see her!" Cloud said, rising to his feet and pushing roughly past his friend, heading down the hall at an incredibly brisk pace.
"Hey, wait for me!" Yuffie shouted after him, panting in an effort to keep up with her bandaged injured knee. "Ow!! Dammit!"
Cloud approached the nurse's desk determinedly, ringing the tiny desk bell with an air of impatience. The young woman emerged with an angry sigh and then recognized him.
"Ah, Mr. Strife! Finally woke up, eh?" she smiled at him.
"Where is she?" was all he could bark from his lips.
"Sephirah you mean? She's in room 46 down the hall to your right," she pointed at the quiet hall, looking busily down at the papers on her desk. Cloud didn't even bother to thank her... He stormed down the hall and entered the hospital room, seeing the door wide open.
There she was... his little girl.
Her normally pale skin had almost a translucent blue tinge, the thin lips lined with a deep purple. She moaned and thrashed weakly in her feverish sleep, fending off invisible demons and monsters within her dominating imagination. Wires were hooked up everywhere in the room... bags of blood mixed with other solutions were hooked into her IV, the crimson liquid leaking down tubes... her lifeline.
Cloud fell weakly to his knees on the hard tiles, leaning his elbows on the stiff bed mattress and his head near her bandaged one. The rancid smell of blood and medicine filled his nostrils, causing him to blanch visibly, his nose wrinkling in silent disgust. Tears flooded his eyes as he took her cold listless hand in his own large one, squeezing gently in his anxiety. He bowed his head, touching his forehead to her thin emaciated wrist, her damaged flesh shriveled and wasted. Tears splashed freely upon her skin, stinging the tiny cuts and scratches like iodine with the salt. A low groan of pain came from deep within her heaving chest, causing Cloud to draw back in alarm.
The shadowed eyelids squeezed and tightened then opened, squinting painfully at the bright room lights.
"Daddy..." rasped the hoarse voice, barely more audible than the slightest whisper on a windy day.
"My Sephirah!" he wept, burying his head into the stiff white hospital linens for consolation.
"Daddy..." she choked again, "Just in case I-- don't make it..." she gasped, coughing a mixture of blood and flem up from her tortured lungs. Cloud shook his head wildly in disbelief, refusing to let her go.
"Don't say that, please Sephie..." he whispered anxiously. She shook her head weakly upon the pillow, staring straight into his heart and soul with the pain-dimmed eyes that had been so much admired once.
"I want you to... know this... I-I love you!" the final words burst from her lungs, sending a spasm of pain to wrack across her chest violently in the form of a weak seizure.
"No, Sephie, you can't leave me! Not now... not ever! Please!" he begged, pleading with the aquamarine eyes that he so loved. He reached towards her face, smoothing back the matted silver strands from her colorless face.
"I'm so-rry... not my choice..." she breathed as the seizures wrecked their havoc through her fragile body again. With a choking cry, she shuddered and lay still. The beautiful blue eyes closed peacefully, the shadows of the new day playing mischievously on top of her long lashes, her mind and body finally in peace and harmony. A delicate smiled lay perched on the thin lips, giving her a look of complete and utter contentment and bliss. Cloud grabbed wildly at her hand in panic, shaking it vigorously as he tried desperately for a response.
"Sephie...? Sephie?! SEPHIRAH!!!!" was his shrill scream as he broke down and wept miserably, murmuring names as he sobbed, "Aerith, my Aerith... you can't both leave me! Please! Don't do this! SEPHIRAH!!!"
The party and the doctor's staff heard the hysterical screams and rushed instantly to his aid, greeted by the scene as they watched the heart meter fail, fading to only a faint and unmoving line. Cloud screamed over the din of the machine, standing up and to throw items desperately as Tifa rushed forth to try and control him.
"I was afraid she wouldn't make it..." the doctor looked away sadly. "It was too late to save her. Miss Kisaragi, you did your best and we did too. I'm dreadfully sorry..." Tifa was attempting to grab at Cloud's flailing arms as he rummaged through his pack. Drawing his sword from where it dangled across his back in its sheath, he brandished it in front of him in a berserk rage. The party backed away fearfully, unsure of what actions to take. With his limit reached, who knows what he could do? Instead of wreaking havoc upon the hospital, the friends were surprised to see him turn, screaming spell names frantically at the equipped curative materia:
"Cure 3! Regen! Life 2!" he shrieked, but to no avail. He rummaged through his pack, screaming out items in frenzy. "Potion! Phoenix Down---"
With the final utterance the shadows began to dance wildly, surrounding the limp figure in their wicked lights. Cloud could hear Cait Sith's voice as it came seemingly from a great distance.
"Ohhh... pretty!" the cat chirped. Yuffie shot it an angry glance as she rushed forward into the eerie lights. She soon found herself unable to move a muscle, as if locked to the spot where she stood, the seemingly magical field that surrounded father and daughter far too much for her mortal form to bear. She screamed in pain as dark fire scorched her flesh, consuming her alive within its wicked grasp. She fell helplessly to cold tiled floor, writhing in pure scorching agony as Vincent leapt swiftly forth from where he positioned himself in the doorway, quickly grabbing her shaking figure by the shoulder and dragging her to the safety of the hall. Nurses crowded around her, fearful and uncertain as they watched the convulsions continue, wracking pure havoc through her systems with the black magic. Soon the seizures subsided, to their relief, but Yuffie still lay inert on the ground, quaking visibly and crying bitter tears of pain and apprehension, clutching desperately at her shoulders like a frightened child. The wild sobbing began to calm visibly, changing into a terrified whimper; the great ninja reduced to nothing more than a young child after a nightmare.
Vincent stared gravely at the thickening shadows, watching their wild, wicked dance as they whirled about the hospital bed, surrounding the slain Sephirah in their blackened embrace, merging into a seemingly tangible stream as they hovered over her like a cloud of pure darkness. Tightening into each other, they seemed to collapse until they formed a ball, a sphere from which no light emitted or reflected. Surrounded by the unleashed evil energy, the black electricity grew and pulsated, beating with the rhythm of their hearts, reflected in each of their eyes as they stared helplessly at the scene. The sphere began to grow... slowly at first did it expand, a gradual growing, but as it grew, so did its speed... Soon it enveloped the entire hospital bed, the girl and her father alike. With a burst of great darkness and a shrill scream, the darkness managed to shape itself into the form of a creature... the great wings opened their length but no light streamed forth. There was no denying it... the creature was pure raw beauty, untamed and unchecked, the very embodiment of vanity and wickedness. The sight captured their soul, forced their eyes to watch yet rendered each of them completely helpless in their dazed view. Tifa managed to shake off the spell partially in her fear, a forced scream ripping from her throat:
"CLOUD!!!"
But yet he could not hear. He was deaf to the world, unable to live, unable to survive, incapable of being without his daughter. It was then that he realized that it was for her that he had lived so long in agony, for her that he fought his overwhelming depression with every ounce of strength of every waking moment. It was for her... that he existed. Without her... he was nothing. Robbed of emotions, thoughts, and feeling, he would be incapable of love. And so he wished desperately, panicked... feverently... for another chance, one last chance to make things right.
The Phoenix seemed to laugh contemptuously at his broken heart, his tortured soul, as it placed its beak obediently on her chest, the darkness seeping across her body, bathing her in the colorless shade. Finally, it enveloped the body completely, penetrating it and filling the veins with new life, forcing the motion of life though the throbbing heart. The darkness collapsed swiftly into itself, sucking its entirety into the stiffened girl. The light returned gradually into the room, releasing them from the trance with a start as they glanced, confused around the room, which was as it had been before. Only one thing was different... Cloud lay collapsed on the bed, his forehead resting lightly on Sephirah's hand, unconscious with his great efforts.
Tifa rushed forth, panicked as she laid her hand over Cloud's back. "Cloud! Can you hear me?!" she whispered hurriedly. "Oh, Cloud!" She felt his chest rise and fall with rhythmic breathing as she rolled him off the bed and onto the floor on his back, putting her ear to his moving mouth.
"Ae-rith... my Aerith... Wait for me... Sephirah..." was his faint whisper. A childish smile crossed his face foolishly, a grin of pure joy that can only come from a dream. Tifa dragged him to the nearby chair, and nodded at Cait Sith. With a bound and a smile, he hopped over and lifted the man, laying him gently amongst the cushions.
"Sleeping like a baby. How cute." Cait Sith cheered. Tifa paid no heed to the mechanical cat as the doctor hailed her suddenly.
"Miss Lockheart! What just happened? Wait... the machine... the heart meter restarted?! What's going on? I thought she..." the doctor stammered. Tifa shook her head, not fully understanding, yet somehow knowing it deep inside.
"I don't know what just happened, doctor, but... let's just call it a miracle."
Chapter 13- Revenge
The voices surrounded her thoughts, commanding and controlling her mind as they pushed out all other concerns.
"Sephirah... come to me, my daughter. Let me hold you in my arms, just once..."
"No, Sephie, you can't leave me! Not now... not ever! Please!"
"Don't you know me, Ancient?"
"That sword... did he never tell you?"
"The Ancients... The very thing that Sephiroth lacked... I have by blood."
"It'll sink into the sea, where it can find eternal rest after reverting back into the form of the condor."
"Eternal rest... all I want..." she thought.
To sleep for eternity... to lapse into a painless existence, without hatred, without fear... without heartbreak.
Then came the suffering.
Bolts of dark thunder ripped through her existence, yanking her from the peaceful grasp of death, from the relief that she wished for so badly. The laughter of the Dark Phoenix screeched in her thoughts, dashing away her mind and body with a blow of its powerful beak. Revenge... how sweet was the word on the mouth of those who utter it longingly. Yet it sours... bitters in the taste buds, cuts the tongue and mouth savagely with its double-edged blade. It destroys the mind, drives to insanity, and eats away your heart silently from the inside... yet how great it tastes... how it beckons so longingly to the soul. Those with a weak mind can do nothing but bend to its evil will, but those with a true heart can resist the temptation.
And thus the Phoenix took its toll, a slave to revenge, a tool of its own evil heart.
And it was for that that she began her suffering, which was to be long and hard.
Life is a gift and a blessing... yet can also be a curse.
***
It was as father and daughter took their rest that Vincent wandered in, lonely in his solitude and curious of the day's events. The ragged crimson cape hung loosely on his sloping shoulders, his human left arm reaching to pull the door gently closed behind his tall figure. Without so much as a sound, he made his way across the room, and stared face to face at Sephirah.
Upon close inspection, the child seemed to be still void of life in her fragility, her body seemingly made of glass and would break when touched. But as he looked over the gently heaving chest and long pale legs, he realized with a start that the wounds were gone. The bandages that had been wrapped around the cuts just before the events had unfolded were dry and white, clean gauze rolls seemingly wasted on a healthy body. But he wouldn't use healthy as the word to describe her... She seemed aged and wasted, her bones sticking out at her hips with the loss of weight. Yet the life was in her... though the illusion of life was rather thin to cover where the fingers of death had spread across the body. But Vincent was too used to seeing death in its most gruesome forms. He'd experienced so much of it, working for the notorious Turks, and even feeling its cold touch himself so long ago at Hojo's hands. He shivered at the memory as he saw Hojo whip the gun from his lab coat, cruelly pointing the weapon of destruction at his chest, pulling the trigger with neither remorse nor a second consideration.
It was then that he heard the moaning.
It was faint at first... the slightest whisper floated off her lips and into the sticky summer morning. Barely uttered, yet it reached his ears. And so he leaned closer, his ear hovering directly over the feverishly moving lips, taking in the ranting with alarm. His eyes widened in alarm as he listened carefully, taking in her words with great consideration.
"Help... please... help me! The firebird..." she began to thrash weakly in her restraints. Vincent put a reassuring hand on her arm, calming her with his cool touch. A child born of the last of the true Ancients... no doubt the calls of the Planet, he thought.
"...Sephiroth? Oh my Sephiroth... I-I love you!" came the whisper as the movements calmed, her face settling from its pained expression into a placid mask of peace and security as she murmured the name.
"Sephiroth...?!"
Vincent thought quickly. Perhaps that was what it was... The feather was not some ordinary magic. The black materia... could it have come from the dark bird of the cadaver? But what about Holy...? Vincent crept silently up to the still snoring Cloud, deftly removing the small pouch of materia that swung lazily from his belt with care not to disturb him. Undoing the simple knot with a quick slash of his bronze claw and slipping it gingerly through the belt against his waist, Vincent began to rummage carefully amongst the jewels. He was in luck; for there, mixed in with the rest of the curative materia, was the simple ruby-like glow of the summon phoenix.
He drew it from the bag slowly, inspecting it as he held it in his left hand, watching the crimson waves and ripples that spread across his palm with deep fascination. With an urge for a closer look, he held the sphere between his thumb and forefinger and carefully studied it in proper light. What he found was something he never would expect.
As he gazed curiously into the tiny ruby ball, he realized that it was as if the entire outer layer of the materia was a cloudy white, streaked with waving patterns like he had never seen. But within the core of the summoning device lay something miraculous. A tiny phoenix with wings outstretched radiated the fiery light, causing the seemingly crimson tinge. In amazement, he dropped the opened bag of materia with a loud clatter like that of glass against marble. Vincent halted dead in his tracks, not even daring to bend and retrieve the spilled gems as they scattered across the tiles mischievously. Not a sound stirred in the room to follow as Vincent paused anxiously, holding his breath tightly and praying that no one heard and would wake. Cloud eyelashes flickered slightly in the gentle sunlight... but did not stir. Within a few seconds, Vincent judged the scene to be safe and with a sigh of relief, released the breath from his lungs. Hurriedly, he retrieved the materia, holding the Phoenix materia in his powerful claw as he retrieved the stones with his more versatile left hand. Scooping them quickly into the bag, he paused as he saw one that had rolled all the way across the room, lying by Sephirah's feet. Astonished, he crawled to it, and picking it up with his left hand, was shocked to find what he did.
"Holy...?! Wasn't it lost? But Aerith..." Vincent thought frantically. "Cloud must've saved it when he journeyed back to the crater... As a reminder of her." Opening his glistening claw, it was then that he realized something incredible.
The white materia... and Phoenix...
The only difference was that one had the miniature firebird embedded within the jewel... the other was empty, void of light and color. Just a small glass ball of cloudy white waves... while the first glowed with the fierce light of the blazes of hell.
It didn't take Vincent's clever mind long to understand.
The answer dawned on him as he turned the two objects in his hand, clenching them tightly in his metal fist. Created by an ancient at the time of Jenova, the white materia was the first Phoenix... a bird who's master took compassion on and released from its stony prison, to experience life as a freeborn creature instead of a slave. It was then that the Holy materia gained its light... the purity of hearts cleansed the rock, freeing the bird from its prison. But such a magnificent creature was not created to live in such a harsh cruel world... and so its light was lost with time. Only one event during its life would it ever regain its original glory... and that was at its death.
"What about the Black materia though?" Vincent wondered. "Weren't they created to counter balance each other?" Once again he answered his own question, put together from tales he had overheard Aerith tell Cloud before Sephirah was born. With the light came the darkness. A rash young Cetra boy dared to slay the Phoenix, to find not only a solution to the disease that was plaguing them all, but for his personal glory so he could partake in the coming of age ceremonies and be appointed a man. Upon the death of the first phoenix, a stone fell from the sky, as well as a rain of charred feathers. A stone of pure evil... the materia of the Dark Phoenix. Angered at the death of his creation, the elder of the last of the Ancients sealed the stone, cursing its bearer and turning it into the ultimate puzzle of life. Or rather, the Temple of the Ancients, as it'd later be called.
And thus were the ultimate magic created... one sent to deal justice to a troubled world, the other to destroy what remained of the good in the Planet. Yet both had the power to give and take the lives of those who touched its spell...
The power of the Bird of Life.
Chapter 9- The Legend of the Phoenix
The engine of the plane slowed to a quiet sputter as it descended swiftly though the thick cloud cover. Landing gear prepared, Cid skillfully notched down the navigation devices in a smooth and effortless descent. Soon the wheels were taxiing along the ground as Cid threw the rocket switch and slowed the plane. It glided to a smooth stop on the rocky plains near the military outpost of Fort Condor. They dismounted with care, Cid helping Sephirah with her heavy leather satchel.
"There it is!" Cid shrugged, pointing west at the tall and forbidding steel structure in the distance. Sephirah nodded gratefully as she took in her surroundings, staring wistfully through the distances at the bare rock cliffs and scarce vegetation. She turned to Cid with a loving smile.
"Thank you ever so much..." she smiled as she give him a quick hug. Distressed and embarrassed by her display of affection, Cid squirmed away. "... You're welcome anytime, Shera would say. Well, I'm goin' back to Rocket Town, so I'll probably be back here for ya in a few weeks." Without even saying a real goodbye, Cid jumped back into the pilot seat of the Tiny Bronco, and with a stiff military salute and a rare smile, took off into the clouded sky. Sephirah sighed in resignation. There was no turning back now...
The heavy wind tossed her sky blue dress playfully with its delicate hands, whispering tenderly in her ear as it whisked by, laughing in its fun. Its swift fingers ran freely through her silken hair, whipping it out from where it was tucked securely behind her ear. The long sliver strands whipped across her face, slapping her rosy cheeks gently with their great lengths. She sighed and strolled on, climbing the shallow rocks until she reached the very summit of the Mountain of the Condor. And there stood the entrance of the age worn fort that fought beside her father for independence.
At the end of a path a guard stood, forehead wrapped in an orange military headband, yet still not managing to restrain his thick dark bangs from falling into his eyes as he watched her approach gingerly. He was still rather young, the son of a warrior who had once fought here to protect the mighty Condor and the Mako Reactor. He was dressed in tattered and stained clothes, yet he wore them proudly- head and back posture erect- as he coolly watched her proceed towards him.
"Well, here's a pretty one this time..." he muttered under his breath. Sephirah turned, not quite catching his words.
"What?" she inquired innocently.
"Umm... Nothing!" said the teenage guard, perking up. "Welcome to Fort Condor, Miss. Who are you?"
"Well, uh..." Sephirah panicked in dismay. What could she say that wouldn't give her away? Her brain racked itself quickly, searching for an idea... "Hi! I'm Erika, a reporter from a magazine in Costa Del Sol. I'm here to-research the legendary Phoenix that has been sighted here!!" she blurted out suddenly. The boy eyed her suspiciously for a moment... then shrugged.
"Whatever," he sighed, "Go on ahead. Just another person here to try their luck with the Phoenix..." With a grunt of exertion, he yanked open the heavy door, motioning for her to pas through. She walked shyly by, turning to thank the teen before she disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel. Bobbing her head politely, she whisked around to enter the tunnel... and he hailed her.
"Oh, by the way, Miss Erika, that's a nice sword you've got there... I suppose you've gotta fend off those men, eh?" he winked at her and laughed as she hastened her retreat down the tunnel. Her face was scarlet in embarrassment and fear. She almost got caught... if they suspected... She held her breath and pretended not to worry.
The thin margin of daylight left in the tunnel receded slowly from her vision, instead replaced by the dim glare of lanterns fastened to the walls. Her long hair gleamed under the low lighting, seeming as if it were dancing with the tiny flickering shadows of the flames. Soon, she could see the end of the tunnel, a small iron door with a steel knocker and a small barred window hole through which streamed noise and brighter light. The smell of smoke leaked through, along with the roaring laughter of grown men. Shyly, her hand rose to the doorknocker, and inhaling deeply, she released it. The heavy metal ring clattered against the door, creaking with rust as it swung and echoed eerily against the rock walls. Silence reigned from inside, as the door creaked slowly open. She was bathed in a blinding light, from which she winced and shielded her eyes with a slender hand. A figure was leaning in the doorway, and he roared with laughter. Sephirah's eyes focused upon his broad and stocky form, his height dwarfing her easily in his shadow.
"Hmm... we don't see many women 'round these parts these days!" he grunted. "Come on in!"
Sephirah stepped reluctantly into the Fort, the air wreathed with cigarette smoke and fouled with the smell of liquor. Her nose wrinkled naturally in disgust as the stench of drunken men filled her nostrils. The men roared with crazed laughter as one tottered unsteadily up to her.
"Whatcha doin' here, huh?" he leered at her, inspecting her with a sneer as she smoothed her satin dress icily. "Hmm... you come to 'play' wit' us? Well, if you want to..." he laughed cruelly as she backed away. He advanced on her with a crooked smile as her hand flew swiftly to her marbled white sword belt. She whipped out the Masamune, the blade dancing wickedly in her hands, out of control as it taunted and jeered at her opponent.
"That's a rather large sword for a pretty little girl. Perhaps you should give it to a real man and get out of here while you still can..." another leering drunk stepped up to her, drawing a knife. "Now, if you know what's good for you..."
"Stop it!" a hoarse voice cried.
The men turned suddenly, frightened. "Sir, no, we didn't really mean anything..."
"Beat it!" the voice snarled angrily. The men fled down the ladders and back to their quarters without any hesitation. "Sheath that sword, woman," the voice was gentle but firm as the slim figure emerged from the darkness of a rocky overhang. He was middle-aged yet still lithe and strong, as her eyes observed. A cunning glint in his eyes gave her the impression of one wise of military tactics. She knew instantly that this man was the commander of the army of which tales were told and her father and mother had once fought for so many years ago. Her sword met the hardened leather sheath automatically as she greeted him with a handshake and a smile.
"You hafta be careful there, young un. My men don't mean no harm, but ya still gotta watch your back in case they git drunk," his slang and heavy accent were strange upon her ears, but she shrugged it off of her mind courteously. His hand met hers firmly as his eyes danced with welcome. She knew that he was a kind a gentle man when she studied at his eyes... cunning and wise, yet soft and weak for women.
His blue eyes seemed to laugh as he looked her up and down. "Well, Miss, ya must be purty strong to git up the hills. What's yer business here?"
"Well... my name is Erika Leigh, a magazine reporter from Costa Del Sol. I'm researching the legendary phoenix so they recommended that I take the ship to Junon and travel here..."
"The Phoenix? You're just in luck them, ma'am!" he laughed heartily as he interrupted her. "One more day and you'da missed it!"
"What do you mean," inquired 'Erika' of the man.
His face grew grave quickly, the smile disappearing from his weary face as he began his story. "I see that ya don't know much about our fort, but that's ok. If ya'd like, I'll explain the Legend of the Phoenix, which is made of rumors gathered from our ancestors," he took a deep breath before beginning.
"Most people norm'ly come here to research the creature, yet most don't never catch sight of our firebird. Once every, say, 18 years, the condors for which our fort was named and is famous for lay and hatch their eggs. There are only two each time and fer some reason, the numbers never change. As the eggshells burst suddenly, the force and energy exerted by the hatchlings causes the parents to catch fire. One condor'll die, and the other'll morph into a Phoenix as its feathers burn. If the male is the bird who passes on, the female is gentle and will peacefully grant the wishes of those who approach it without evil in their minds. If the female dies, the male'll go berserk and be extremely violent, attacking all intruders in its way. So... if the male is reborn, hide! The Phoenix only lives for about 24 hours, which is more than enough time fer its fast wings to take it to the Junon sea in the middle continent, ya know, the one that lies in the huge crater-like basin. It must reach the sea before its feathers are extinguished for it to die in peace. It'll sink into the sea, where it can find eternal rest after reverting back into the form of the condor. Fer some reason, those waters have always been sacred to the condors, perhaps where hatred and sorrow is purged from their minds... The hatchlings're always one male, one female. The young will then raise themselves, mate, and repeat the cycle. It takes about 18 years for the condors to mature from birth," the man looked obviously concerned about the condors and the well being of the firebird that the fort treasured so carefully. Sephirah's heart stirred with pity, yet she knew what she would have to do; she knew where her fate was to guide her... and so from her lips escaped a tiny sigh, a sigh of regret and loneliness, sorrow and hopelessness, filled with unshed tears, untold stories... so she nodded.
"I understand," she replied gravely after a reflective pause. "May I watch the hatching begin?" she inquired. He nodded in agreement, and gestured towards another iron door set in the wall of a small room that overlooked the steep mountainside. "Right through there, if ya want to go..." his eyes squeezed tensely shut as his head bowed. "I don't have the heart to watch it anymore. I'm sorry, but I can't go with ya..." he turned away in time to avoid her seeing a small teardrop leaking down his tanned and rough cheek. Solemn, she placed a gentle hand on his arm and gave him a smile.
"I understand. Well, I better be going up now!" She took a step towards the door, the thrill of fear running down her spine, causing her to shiver in anticipation... So she ran to the iron gates before her sensible mind overtook her body and forced her to turn back. She bounded swiftly up the stairs to the top of the tower as the commander stood, watching the shadows where she had disappeared.
"May god go with you, Erika..." he muttered as he took a seat.
The was one thing he forgot to tell her... The answers to all of her problems lay on a tiny parchment that hung suspended from the strong rocky walls, slightly yellowed by age, a scroll written upon the scientific discovery of the Phoenix, over 40 years previous:
"The words of the wise man of this fort are inspiring, and for that reason, I decided to record them. Although they contradict all that Shinra's science stands for, I was asked by the elders of this place to put them into writing:
"The bird of fire, known as the Phoenix to those who believe in the mythological world, can grant one wish during its lifetime before it lays to rest in the heaving seas. The wish can only be one of resurrection, neither one of riches nor power. The one who wishes can only revive one who he or she really loves who has passed away, and must have died of unnatural causes. The Phoenix will resurrect the being, as well as purge his or her soul of hatred and evil.
"But when the Phoenix lays slain by an object of man, it will transform itself into what is known as a Dark Phoenix, whose blackened feathers give life, but slowly destroy the remaining light in the soul of the resurrected, replacing it gradually with pure evil. Very few beings, in fact, it is probable that only the powerful light of the Ancients can withstand the darkness. Though they will not be consumed by it, they will become extremely fragile from the loss of the strength that comes with their former purity.
-Professor Gast, Biologist"
Chapter 10- Phoenix's Down
The light clinking of her boots upon the hollow metal steps echoed through the long coils of the staircase as Sephirah climbed steadily upwards, readying herself for the upcoming battle. The ascent of the steep tower became difficult and painful as she continued to climb, yet her body was numb to the pain of her stiffened muscles. Her heart was set, her face determined, her eyes... her eyes betrayed her mind. Fear... she was afraid... afraid of the Phoenix, afraid of the consequences of her actions... afraid of life itself.
She panted tiredly as she reached the summit of the mountain, waiting at the iron-plated end of the staircase to catch her breath before she faced her greatest challenge... to kill a god.
The iron barred window hole in the door streamed light upon her in strips, making her feel imprisoned, caged off from the world. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and threw her weight against the door old rusted door. To her surprise, it opened easily under the force and she fell sprawling to the ground. She groaned and looked up. Seeing the condors not more than 20 feet from her she gasped and drew back. Spotting a large hunk of heavy twisted metal debris, she dove swiftly behind it, careful to avoid the sharp shrapnel and rubble that littered the cement. Luckily, the great birds had their backs towards her and had not even noticed her presence. A small eyehole was drilled into the rusted and moss-covered metal, obviously for the purposes she was using it for.
"So I'm not the first to watch through here," she thought as she kept an eye on the condors, "Well, all the more convenient for me!" she muttered. She held her breath fearfully as the male condor turned towards her, suspicious and alert. Seeing nothing out of place, he spread his powerful wingspan as a warning to whatever lay out there and resumed vigil over his offspring. Sephirah sighed in silent relief, her blood pounding like hammers in her ears.
After a short while, a light tapping sound could be heard in the silence of the roof, followed by a thudding of beaks as a thin hairline crack began to spread its way across the eggs. The rhythmic tapping continued, accelerating gradually until the cracks covered the surface of the eggshells...
The condor parents leaned forward curiously, waiting eagerly for their children to emerge from amongst the shells...
A fatal mistake.
With a sudden and amazingly powerful burst of pure energy, the twin eggs exploded upon their parent, sending them flying back. Bright flames licked the feathers eagerly in the morning sky, consuming the adult birds savagely...
A wild shriek ripped madly through the air, causing Sephirah to flinch and cover her ears. Raw pain surged with the flames in the birds...
Sephirah squeezed her eyes shut against the blinding fury of the flash of light that followed...
After a few moments, she reopened them fearfully, peering through the tiny drilled hole with apprehension.
The Phoenix!
"Firebird" was far too tame of a description for the glory of the beast. Perhaps the discoverers of the creature could not possibly find words for the wild beauty either.
Golden-red feathers cascaded richly over its back in moving patterns, ruffled by the ever so light breeze. The bright glare of the flames began to disperse, replaced by the iridescent sheen of the quills as they glowed, bathed in sheer power. The soft gilded gold of its downy body ruffled majestically, jointing the brilliant fiery hues of the wings and pinions with an amazing clash of colors and a swirl of crimson. The long sweeping tail formed an elegant train behind the slim and graceful body, forming a spectrum of colors, streaming like spilled ink running its way across wet paper. A distinct light radiated powerfully from its form, a light gentle in its glory, yet fierce and wild, untamed by man. The sharp talons were of shimmering silver, glimmering in the dimmed sunlight that streamed lazily through the clouds. The claws that could take life as well as its feathers give it. The gold-plated beak opened in a shrill cry, a scream of grief and rage as the male bird crouched sorrowfully over the battered and bloody carcass of the female condor, his mate. The silver talons clenched tightly in fury among the charred and blackened feathers...
The firebird screeched, throwing its crested head to the sky, a cry of pure grief and rage unchecked. A cry that shocked Sephirah with its power, a cry that must've been heard at the ends of the Planet. Not unlike the one she had heard at the death of her mother with Sephiroth... She shivered with a cold that wasn't present in the warm zephyr behind the shielding steel.
The Phoenix, saddened by the loss, spread its mighty wingspan in an array of colors, a final tribute to the one he loved. The spectrum of bright light caught Sephirah by surprise, filling her eyes with the glaring whitewash of the blow. She closed her eyes just in time, yet not fast enough. She opened them but could not see; panicked, she rose unsteadily to her feet.
The Phoenix turned in its mighty bloodlust, and spotting her, swooped in to attack...
Sephirah, in her weakness, was unable even to dodge the onslaught...
The Phoenix caught her directly in the stomach, winding her as it sent her reeling to the floor at the edge of the tall tower. With a cry of triumph, the Phoenix angrily mocked its opponent as she sat up dizzily, eyes watering painfully in an attempt to clear them. Her sight was blurred, yet she could see the faint form of the bright bird of life and she brandished her sword threateningly.
The phoenix attacked, slashing with its lethal beak as her face while clawing with its talons. Sephirah parried with the blade, distressed by the fierce attack as she was driven back. Her heel struck the curb at the edge, shocking her and striking terror into her heart. Looking down in fear, she checked her balance and steadied her legs.
A terrible mistake.
Seeing his enemy open, the Phoenix dove powerfully at her unprotected legs, striking her full force. With a scream of shock, she flew off the edge of the tower and into the sky.
Grappling in a frenzy for something to save her, she closed her eyes and flailed her arms during her fall. Time seemed to suspend itself as her sensitive fingers brushed something soft, and grabbing frantically, she clung desperately to the object.
A sharp scream of pain emitted from her buoy.
The long and elegant tail of the phoenix came to its disadvantage as it swooped above her falling form. Hanging from it was the surprised Sephirah, hugging the fiery feathers tightly to her chest with the sword still gripped in her white-knuckled left hand.
The bird screamed in rage and clawed mercilessly at her head and arms. Sephirah gasped as the sharp talons ripped through her skin, drawing blood. Her grip weakening drastically, Sephirah struggled to cling to the bird as they spiraled slowly lower to the ground while heading steadily west from the great height. Completely drained, Sephirah prayed feverently as she flew like lightning over the thick foliage of the Junon forests. With a deep breath, she spent her remaining strength in a savage upward blow, the steel of the sword, ripping through flesh and bone alike.
The piercing scream of the Phoenix rented sharply through the thick forests, small animals fleeing into their homes in fright.
The Phoenix's eyes dimmed in death... the light dispersed and floated away from the dying feathers, leaving the body as black as charcoal. The great wings, now a deep purplish-blue, folded in death as the two figures began their long plummet towards the forest floor. Sephirah passed out in fear as her hand separated weakly from the bird, her limp form falling at an exponential rate.
***
Yuffie Kisaragi was in the mood for adventure. After the death of her father, Godo, she felt obliged to journey the world again, as she did when she was a young ninja, leaving her boyfriend, Tanaka, in charge during her absence. Years of life had provided for her experience and strength as well as some much needed wisdom. The entire party had agreed that she had changed from the wild and wayward ninja, becoming rather mild and mannered, polite and courteous to visitors of her hometown. No longer known as a petty thug, she had now earned the true title of 'Materia Hunter,' full of potential and a longing for adventure instead of greed.
Perhaps Yuffie's surface had changed... yet deep inside she had remained the wild rowdy girl she had been 18 years previous during her adventures with Cloud and their friends.
"Revisiting old terrain is nice," she thought wryly. "This is right where I met Cloud that first day... I'll never forget that!! I was so overconfident... Well, a ninja must learn modesty and virtue as well as strength and agility. I'll never forget the way you taught me that... Father..." Yuffie bowed her head in honor of his memory. "Maybe someday I'll be as wise a ruler for Wutai as you once were," A tear glimmered from within the dark lashes that hid the large innocent eyes that masked the cunning and stealthy teenager that remained within.
A blood-curling scream ripped through her senses, causing her to look up frightfully. Whipping her head about in a fearful frenzy, her short black hair blew back from her tanned face as she leapt from her skillful perch in the tall tree. She ran from branch to branch as gracefully as any squirrel ever could, approaching a tiny clearing where the grasses grew tall and dry and waved peacefully in the wind. Seeing a shadow cast over the land, she looked up to inspect, shielding her eyes with a skillful hand. With a gasp of shock, she recognized a humanoid figure through the glare of the sun... and something else. Using all of her strength in her calves, she sprang from the tree branch, hearing it snap behind her legs from the incredible burst of strength, and dove for the figure, catching it barely in her arms. It struck her square in the chest, winding her completely as she fell to the ground, trying to land on her feet. Instead, her tired legs could not hold the immense impact and she fell back on her behind with a painful bump.
"Ow!!!" Yuffie cried, rubbing her behind ruefully. "That hurt!!" she muttered. "So who's this here...?" she turned over the unconscious figure with interest, gasping in shock as the arm flopped across the body, revealing the familiar face to the ninja woman. Yuffie laid the girl on the grass, backing off in shock as she recognized the girl... and just dodged in time as the body of the Phoenix landed where she was standing, slowly evaporating into a fine black dust that blew away, swirling in the howling winds. Yuffie blanched at the stench of fresh blood and quickly knelt by the girl.
"Oh my gawd... Sephirah! Can you hear me?!" she screamed. "Oh, no! Child, you must live!" Yuffie's heart raced in fear. She had to get the child to a hospital. She slung the limp body over her shoulder with a grunt of exertion and raced off through the trees. Her sharp eyes caught an object fluttering to the floor, as well as a small black sphere lying in the grass. Bending swiftly, she retrieved the charcoal black feather, from which no light reflected, and placed it in Sephirah's coat pocket. Sneakily, she pocketed the orb and set off into the undergrowth briskly.
"Perhaps she'll want that when she wakes up," she thought. "Now on to Junon!! Reeve has got to be there... maybe he can help!"
Chapter 11- Trails of Blood
It was a completely exhausted Yuffie that reached the peaceful town of Junon harbor late that night, warm fresh blood that was not her own trickling slowly down her back as she emerged from the waving nighttime shadows of the forest. Panting as she rested at the city gates, she screamed in a hoarse voice to the sky:
"CAIT SITH!!!! GET THE HELL OVER HERE!!!" The entire town woke from its peaceful slumber, glaring at her panicked form grumpily as a fluffy white stuffed moogle bounced its way cheerily up the path.
"What is it, Yuffie? People are trying to- Holy moley!! She okay?!" The cat perched on top the doll gasped in innocent horror, bringing its tiny paws up to its loud-mouthed face.
Yuffie glared furiously at him. "What does it look like you stupid cat?! Go get some help, dammit!"
"Hurry!! We need help! Medical emergency! Priscilla!" The cat raised his megaphone towards the uncertain citizens as one young woman in particular bounded down the long wooden flights of stairs, swinging down the banisters. The light brown hair framed her face as she leaned over the unconscious girl. She placed a hand over her chest and her ear near the mouth. She lifted her hand from the chest, feeling something sticky and gasped in terror.
"Blood! She's still breathing... but barely! And look at those scratches..." she turned to Yuffie, eyes blazing. "What did you do to her?!"
"Calm down!! It's hard to explain... I found her in the forest and I brought her here..." Yuffie was puzzled.
"How did this happen then?" Priscilla snapped.
"I-I don't know!!" Yuffie tried to explain. "She fell from the sky and-"
"Oh, enough of the excuses! We've got to get her to the inn! Help me!!" Priscilla lifted Sephirah's legs with a grunt as Yuffie supported the shoulders. They backed slowly into a lighted house where an old woman was present in the doorway.
"W-Why, what happened here?!" was the woman's wide-eyed response.
"Mrs. Johnston, you've got to help me!! She's badly injured..." Priscilla pleaded.
The old woman nodded gravely. "Now that is obvious, dear, but I don't know if I can help... We need to bring her up to Junon's hospital!"
Cait Sith nodded and touched a button on his microphone. "Medical emergency, ER stand ready!" They heard voices through the static and knew to proceed.
"Hurry before it's too late!" the elderly lady urged. Yuffie tried to rise to her feet and help, but she found she couldn't. She passed out like a light on the couch, unable to move at all. Cait Sith then handled the situation, picking up Sephirah in his soft mechanical paws and bounding across the town to the emergency elevator. Streams of crimson blood began to ooze over the doll's plush, staining it a dark shade of scarlet...
***
"Whaddaya mean she 'was' here?!" Cloud slammed his sturdy fist forcefully on the Highwind's living room table, which luckily, was composed of solid oak. Papers flew about with powerful sweeps of his gloved hand, scattering around the already cluttered room. Tifa put a hand on his shoulder solemnly, trying to calm his rage without redirecting it towards her.
"Whoa, man! Calm down! Your girl's alright!" Cid jumped up from his seat on the couch, surprised. "I left 'er at Fort Condor. She said she had some research to do..."
"So you left my young daughter with a bunch of drunken fools?!" Cloud fumed between his teeth.
"Cloud, she's a grown woman... Perhaps it's time you let her take care of herself," Shera said gently.
"Honey... Sephirah knows how to fight... she took the Masamune with her too..." Tifa shivered at the sinister name as it rolled off her tongue. "Perhaps we have been treating her like a child?" Tifa soothed.
Cloud relaxed slightly, a feeling of security coming back to him as he paced, silence reigning the room. With out warning, the sharp wailing ring of the telephone ripped through their thoughts and jerked them back into reality. Cid groaned as he got up, reaching for the phone grumpily.
"Highwind residence, Cid speaking... What? He's right here... why?" Cid covered the receiver with his hand.
"Yo Cloud, it's for you," Cid shrugged as he surrendered the phone to the curious Cloud.
"Hello...?" said Cloud. "Reeve?! What's wrong?" Cloud's eyes widened as his skin paled visibly. "I understand... I'll be right over!" He hung the receiver up dazedly. Tifa put an anxious hand on his shoulder, eyes overflowing with concern.
"What's going on...?" she whispered, her voice breaking the hushed silence.
"It's Sephirah... they think... they say she could..." Cloud didn't get to finish the sentence before he lapsed into hysterical sobs, wracking through his body as he slumped against the wall, sliding to the floor. His eyes and fists were clenched in pain as he gritted his teeth in agony, cursing his now fragile heart.
Tifa rushed to him, falling to her knees on the floor in shock. "It can't be... what happened?" her voice was a soft whisper as she wrapped her arms protectively around Cloud's shaking form.
"Her injuries... he said... but... don't know... what happened..." Cloud hiccuped, unable to speak more than gasps of breath at a time.
A rare tear glimmered in Cid's blue-gray eyes. "Dammit! I shouldn't have left her alone there!" he swore angrily, slamming his fist hard onto the table. Shera wept hysterically, burying her face in Cid's shirt in shock.
"We've got to try somethin'!" cried Cid, jumping to his feet. "To the Highwind before it's too late!" The Tifa nodded, attempting to drag Cloud to his feet, finding he was quite heavy because of his muscular build. With a groan of exertion, she managed to pull him to his feet, leaning his weight against her shoulder as she tottered unsteadily out of the house.
"Need help?" A deep mysterious voice called them as they reached the arched gates of the house.
A shadow floated swiftly over their heads, causing them to stop in their tracks. A long scarlet cape filled the path, swirling gracefully around the tall figure. The long raven black hair glimmered gently in the channels of moonlight, streaming back towards them in untidy strands. As he turned and rose from his crouch, they already knew him before recognizing the pale pasty skin and the blood red eyes...
Vincent!
The sight of his mangled and twisted body was still familiar to their eyes, even though they hadn't seen much of him since the time Aerith had been laid to rest a final time. Many times, though, he had been watching them. Perhaps they didn't see him, but he was always there, watching their progress as growing humans like a hawk during the night. It was something for him to do with his painful existence... Mortals are the entertainment of those who cannot die...
Tifa nodded. "Of course, Vincent. We need all the help we can get, but I suppose you need to know what's going on first..."
Vincent approached her, his ghostly pale flesh and frighteningly beautiful eyes sending a shiver down her spine as his cold metal claw brushed her arm harmlessly. He hauled the unconscious Cloud over his shoulder effortlessly as he turned, flipping his cape back over a shoulder and following the Highwinds down the path towards their airship.
"Trust me, there's no need... I already know," he replied, his face as expressionless as steel as they boarded the airship grimly.
Chapter 12- Survival of the Fittest
Cloud paced the halls of the Junon Medical Center impatiently. Mind completely numbed, an empty look was spread across his beautiful blue eyes, a glowing mixture of clear cerulean and crisp navy that were devoid of all rational thought and sight. A nurse quietly entered the hallway form the operating room, carrying a clipboard tucked underneath her arm.
"Mr. Strife? ...Mr. Strife!!" she approached Cloud, catching him gently by the shoulder and shaking him out of the daze. It took a few moments before anything registered in his mind, then he jumped back suddenly in surprise. He turned the beautiful sapphire gaze upon her, the gems deeply clouded like ancient jade. He nodded in acknowledgement, unable to muster the strength to speak.
"Well, I must say that it was a miracle that she survived so far, Mr. Strife. You really ought to look out more carefully for her. I have no idea what happened... Apparently, no one does. When she was brought in, she was unconscious and bleeding profusely... Any normal person should've been dead on arrival, really. Perhaps fate wasn't quite ready to give up on her yet..." the nurse shook her head in amazement. "Well, anyway, the operation went well, and you can visit her tomorrow. First we require her to rest, and sir, I suggest you do that same," Cloud nodded absently. He sighed joyously in relief, sitting down with a tired slump on the nearby waiting room bench. The exhaustion and stress finally caught up with him, sending him off into a deep and peaceful slumber.
***
"Hey Cloud... I was sent to wake you up. I'm not sure if you should be lying there like that anyway..." Yuffie's voice seemed to come from a distance, the gentle shaking stirring him slowly from his sleep. He sat up slowly and yawned. A spasm of pain racked through his head and neck, causing him to groan with the throbbing pain.
"Feels as if I have a drunken hangover or something..." he smiled ruefully back at her. He looked around at the unfamiliar room, watching nurses rush past hurriedly in their meticulous white gowns. Where was he? And what was he doing here? Oh well, that didn't really matter for now... He sighed and grinned at Yuffie, rubbing his messy spikes until they fell in light blonde strands around his face, brushing the soft silken threads back from his eyes. Yuffie was astonished... Cloud looked surprisingly handsome! She had always wondered what al the other girls saw in him... Cloud noticed her gaping look and chuckled good-naturedly.
"Yeah, I don't keep it down much anymore... Aerith always said I should. What do you think?" he said with an amused smile.
"Y-Yeah... um... well, I was sent to tell you that Sephirah is in her hospital room... the doctor said he can allow family visitors only." she stammered nervously.
It was then that the memory dawned back upon Cloud's mind. "What?!"
"Yeah... they wheeled her in early yesterday morning, but you were so sleeping so peacefully..." she started, playing with her raven black hair nervously, praying for a good response.
"What do you mean?! How long have I been asleep...?" Cloud demanded.
"Um... the nurse says for about 36 hours... You were really exhausted!" Yuffie scratched her head guiltily as Cloud swore.
"I have to go see her!" Cloud said, rising to his feet and pushing roughly past his friend, heading down the hall at an incredibly brisk pace.
"Hey, wait for me!" Yuffie shouted after him, panting in an effort to keep up with her bandaged injured knee. "Ow!! Dammit!"
Cloud approached the nurse's desk determinedly, ringing the tiny desk bell with an air of impatience. The young woman emerged with an angry sigh and then recognized him.
"Ah, Mr. Strife! Finally woke up, eh?" she smiled at him.
"Where is she?" was all he could bark from his lips.
"Sephirah you mean? She's in room 46 down the hall to your right," she pointed at the quiet hall, looking busily down at the papers on her desk. Cloud didn't even bother to thank her... He stormed down the hall and entered the hospital room, seeing the door wide open.
There she was... his little girl.
Her normally pale skin had almost a translucent blue tinge, the thin lips lined with a deep purple. She moaned and thrashed weakly in her feverish sleep, fending off invisible demons and monsters within her dominating imagination. Wires were hooked up everywhere in the room... bags of blood mixed with other solutions were hooked into her IV, the crimson liquid leaking down tubes... her lifeline.
Cloud fell weakly to his knees on the hard tiles, leaning his elbows on the stiff bed mattress and his head near her bandaged one. The rancid smell of blood and medicine filled his nostrils, causing him to blanch visibly, his nose wrinkling in silent disgust. Tears flooded his eyes as he took her cold listless hand in his own large one, squeezing gently in his anxiety. He bowed his head, touching his forehead to her thin emaciated wrist, her damaged flesh shriveled and wasted. Tears splashed freely upon her skin, stinging the tiny cuts and scratches like iodine with the salt. A low groan of pain came from deep within her heaving chest, causing Cloud to draw back in alarm.
The shadowed eyelids squeezed and tightened then opened, squinting painfully at the bright room lights.
"Daddy..." rasped the hoarse voice, barely more audible than the slightest whisper on a windy day.
"My Sephirah!" he wept, burying his head into the stiff white hospital linens for consolation.
"Daddy..." she choked again, "Just in case I-- don't make it..." she gasped, coughing a mixture of blood and flem up from her tortured lungs. Cloud shook his head wildly in disbelief, refusing to let her go.
"Don't say that, please Sephie..." he whispered anxiously. She shook her head weakly upon the pillow, staring straight into his heart and soul with the pain-dimmed eyes that had been so much admired once.
"I want you to... know this... I-I love you!" the final words burst from her lungs, sending a spasm of pain to wrack across her chest violently in the form of a weak seizure.
"No, Sephie, you can't leave me! Not now... not ever! Please!" he begged, pleading with the aquamarine eyes that he so loved. He reached towards her face, smoothing back the matted silver strands from her colorless face.
"I'm so-rry... not my choice..." she breathed as the seizures wrecked their havoc through her fragile body again. With a choking cry, she shuddered and lay still. The beautiful blue eyes closed peacefully, the shadows of the new day playing mischievously on top of her long lashes, her mind and body finally in peace and harmony. A delicate smiled lay perched on the thin lips, giving her a look of complete and utter contentment and bliss. Cloud grabbed wildly at her hand in panic, shaking it vigorously as he tried desperately for a response.
"Sephie...? Sephie?! SEPHIRAH!!!!" was his shrill scream as he broke down and wept miserably, murmuring names as he sobbed, "Aerith, my Aerith... you can't both leave me! Please! Don't do this! SEPHIRAH!!!"
The party and the doctor's staff heard the hysterical screams and rushed instantly to his aid, greeted by the scene as they watched the heart meter fail, fading to only a faint and unmoving line. Cloud screamed over the din of the machine, standing up and to throw items desperately as Tifa rushed forth to try and control him.
"I was afraid she wouldn't make it..." the doctor looked away sadly. "It was too late to save her. Miss Kisaragi, you did your best and we did too. I'm dreadfully sorry..." Tifa was attempting to grab at Cloud's flailing arms as he rummaged through his pack. Drawing his sword from where it dangled across his back in its sheath, he brandished it in front of him in a berserk rage. The party backed away fearfully, unsure of what actions to take. With his limit reached, who knows what he could do? Instead of wreaking havoc upon the hospital, the friends were surprised to see him turn, screaming spell names frantically at the equipped curative materia:
"Cure 3! Regen! Life 2!" he shrieked, but to no avail. He rummaged through his pack, screaming out items in frenzy. "Potion! Phoenix Down---"
With the final utterance the shadows began to dance wildly, surrounding the limp figure in their wicked lights. Cloud could hear Cait Sith's voice as it came seemingly from a great distance.
"Ohhh... pretty!" the cat chirped. Yuffie shot it an angry glance as she rushed forward into the eerie lights. She soon found herself unable to move a muscle, as if locked to the spot where she stood, the seemingly magical field that surrounded father and daughter far too much for her mortal form to bear. She screamed in pain as dark fire scorched her flesh, consuming her alive within its wicked grasp. She fell helplessly to cold tiled floor, writhing in pure scorching agony as Vincent leapt swiftly forth from where he positioned himself in the doorway, quickly grabbing her shaking figure by the shoulder and dragging her to the safety of the hall. Nurses crowded around her, fearful and uncertain as they watched the convulsions continue, wracking pure havoc through her systems with the black magic. Soon the seizures subsided, to their relief, but Yuffie still lay inert on the ground, quaking visibly and crying bitter tears of pain and apprehension, clutching desperately at her shoulders like a frightened child. The wild sobbing began to calm visibly, changing into a terrified whimper; the great ninja reduced to nothing more than a young child after a nightmare.
Vincent stared gravely at the thickening shadows, watching their wild, wicked dance as they whirled about the hospital bed, surrounding the slain Sephirah in their blackened embrace, merging into a seemingly tangible stream as they hovered over her like a cloud of pure darkness. Tightening into each other, they seemed to collapse until they formed a ball, a sphere from which no light emitted or reflected. Surrounded by the unleashed evil energy, the black electricity grew and pulsated, beating with the rhythm of their hearts, reflected in each of their eyes as they stared helplessly at the scene. The sphere began to grow... slowly at first did it expand, a gradual growing, but as it grew, so did its speed... Soon it enveloped the entire hospital bed, the girl and her father alike. With a burst of great darkness and a shrill scream, the darkness managed to shape itself into the form of a creature... the great wings opened their length but no light streamed forth. There was no denying it... the creature was pure raw beauty, untamed and unchecked, the very embodiment of vanity and wickedness. The sight captured their soul, forced their eyes to watch yet rendered each of them completely helpless in their dazed view. Tifa managed to shake off the spell partially in her fear, a forced scream ripping from her throat:
"CLOUD!!!"
But yet he could not hear. He was deaf to the world, unable to live, unable to survive, incapable of being without his daughter. It was then that he realized that it was for her that he had lived so long in agony, for her that he fought his overwhelming depression with every ounce of strength of every waking moment. It was for her... that he existed. Without her... he was nothing. Robbed of emotions, thoughts, and feeling, he would be incapable of love. And so he wished desperately, panicked... feverently... for another chance, one last chance to make things right.
The Phoenix seemed to laugh contemptuously at his broken heart, his tortured soul, as it placed its beak obediently on her chest, the darkness seeping across her body, bathing her in the colorless shade. Finally, it enveloped the body completely, penetrating it and filling the veins with new life, forcing the motion of life though the throbbing heart. The darkness collapsed swiftly into itself, sucking its entirety into the stiffened girl. The light returned gradually into the room, releasing them from the trance with a start as they glanced, confused around the room, which was as it had been before. Only one thing was different... Cloud lay collapsed on the bed, his forehead resting lightly on Sephirah's hand, unconscious with his great efforts.
Tifa rushed forth, panicked as she laid her hand over Cloud's back. "Cloud! Can you hear me?!" she whispered hurriedly. "Oh, Cloud!" She felt his chest rise and fall with rhythmic breathing as she rolled him off the bed and onto the floor on his back, putting her ear to his moving mouth.
"Ae-rith... my Aerith... Wait for me... Sephirah..." was his faint whisper. A childish smile crossed his face foolishly, a grin of pure joy that can only come from a dream. Tifa dragged him to the nearby chair, and nodded at Cait Sith. With a bound and a smile, he hopped over and lifted the man, laying him gently amongst the cushions.
"Sleeping like a baby. How cute." Cait Sith cheered. Tifa paid no heed to the mechanical cat as the doctor hailed her suddenly.
"Miss Lockheart! What just happened? Wait... the machine... the heart meter restarted?! What's going on? I thought she..." the doctor stammered. Tifa shook her head, not fully understanding, yet somehow knowing it deep inside.
"I don't know what just happened, doctor, but... let's just call it a miracle."
Chapter 13- Revenge
The voices surrounded her thoughts, commanding and controlling her mind as they pushed out all other concerns.
"Sephirah... come to me, my daughter. Let me hold you in my arms, just once..."
"No, Sephie, you can't leave me! Not now... not ever! Please!"
"Don't you know me, Ancient?"
"That sword... did he never tell you?"
"The Ancients... The very thing that Sephiroth lacked... I have by blood."
"It'll sink into the sea, where it can find eternal rest after reverting back into the form of the condor."
"Eternal rest... all I want..." she thought.
To sleep for eternity... to lapse into a painless existence, without hatred, without fear... without heartbreak.
Then came the suffering.
Bolts of dark thunder ripped through her existence, yanking her from the peaceful grasp of death, from the relief that she wished for so badly. The laughter of the Dark Phoenix screeched in her thoughts, dashing away her mind and body with a blow of its powerful beak. Revenge... how sweet was the word on the mouth of those who utter it longingly. Yet it sours... bitters in the taste buds, cuts the tongue and mouth savagely with its double-edged blade. It destroys the mind, drives to insanity, and eats away your heart silently from the inside... yet how great it tastes... how it beckons so longingly to the soul. Those with a weak mind can do nothing but bend to its evil will, but those with a true heart can resist the temptation.
And thus the Phoenix took its toll, a slave to revenge, a tool of its own evil heart.
And it was for that that she began her suffering, which was to be long and hard.
Life is a gift and a blessing... yet can also be a curse.
***
It was as father and daughter took their rest that Vincent wandered in, lonely in his solitude and curious of the day's events. The ragged crimson cape hung loosely on his sloping shoulders, his human left arm reaching to pull the door gently closed behind his tall figure. Without so much as a sound, he made his way across the room, and stared face to face at Sephirah.
Upon close inspection, the child seemed to be still void of life in her fragility, her body seemingly made of glass and would break when touched. But as he looked over the gently heaving chest and long pale legs, he realized with a start that the wounds were gone. The bandages that had been wrapped around the cuts just before the events had unfolded were dry and white, clean gauze rolls seemingly wasted on a healthy body. But he wouldn't use healthy as the word to describe her... She seemed aged and wasted, her bones sticking out at her hips with the loss of weight. Yet the life was in her... though the illusion of life was rather thin to cover where the fingers of death had spread across the body. But Vincent was too used to seeing death in its most gruesome forms. He'd experienced so much of it, working for the notorious Turks, and even feeling its cold touch himself so long ago at Hojo's hands. He shivered at the memory as he saw Hojo whip the gun from his lab coat, cruelly pointing the weapon of destruction at his chest, pulling the trigger with neither remorse nor a second consideration.
It was then that he heard the moaning.
It was faint at first... the slightest whisper floated off her lips and into the sticky summer morning. Barely uttered, yet it reached his ears. And so he leaned closer, his ear hovering directly over the feverishly moving lips, taking in the ranting with alarm. His eyes widened in alarm as he listened carefully, taking in her words with great consideration.
"Help... please... help me! The firebird..." she began to thrash weakly in her restraints. Vincent put a reassuring hand on her arm, calming her with his cool touch. A child born of the last of the true Ancients... no doubt the calls of the Planet, he thought.
"...Sephiroth? Oh my Sephiroth... I-I love you!" came the whisper as the movements calmed, her face settling from its pained expression into a placid mask of peace and security as she murmured the name.
"Sephiroth...?!"
Vincent thought quickly. Perhaps that was what it was... The feather was not some ordinary magic. The black materia... could it have come from the dark bird of the cadaver? But what about Holy...? Vincent crept silently up to the still snoring Cloud, deftly removing the small pouch of materia that swung lazily from his belt with care not to disturb him. Undoing the simple knot with a quick slash of his bronze claw and slipping it gingerly through the belt against his waist, Vincent began to rummage carefully amongst the jewels. He was in luck; for there, mixed in with the rest of the curative materia, was the simple ruby-like glow of the summon phoenix.
He drew it from the bag slowly, inspecting it as he held it in his left hand, watching the crimson waves and ripples that spread across his palm with deep fascination. With an urge for a closer look, he held the sphere between his thumb and forefinger and carefully studied it in proper light. What he found was something he never would expect.
As he gazed curiously into the tiny ruby ball, he realized that it was as if the entire outer layer of the materia was a cloudy white, streaked with waving patterns like he had never seen. But within the core of the summoning device lay something miraculous. A tiny phoenix with wings outstretched radiated the fiery light, causing the seemingly crimson tinge. In amazement, he dropped the opened bag of materia with a loud clatter like that of glass against marble. Vincent halted dead in his tracks, not even daring to bend and retrieve the spilled gems as they scattered across the tiles mischievously. Not a sound stirred in the room to follow as Vincent paused anxiously, holding his breath tightly and praying that no one heard and would wake. Cloud eyelashes flickered slightly in the gentle sunlight... but did not stir. Within a few seconds, Vincent judged the scene to be safe and with a sigh of relief, released the breath from his lungs. Hurriedly, he retrieved the materia, holding the Phoenix materia in his powerful claw as he retrieved the stones with his more versatile left hand. Scooping them quickly into the bag, he paused as he saw one that had rolled all the way across the room, lying by Sephirah's feet. Astonished, he crawled to it, and picking it up with his left hand, was shocked to find what he did.
"Holy...?! Wasn't it lost? But Aerith..." Vincent thought frantically. "Cloud must've saved it when he journeyed back to the crater... As a reminder of her." Opening his glistening claw, it was then that he realized something incredible.
The white materia... and Phoenix...
The only difference was that one had the miniature firebird embedded within the jewel... the other was empty, void of light and color. Just a small glass ball of cloudy white waves... while the first glowed with the fierce light of the blazes of hell.
It didn't take Vincent's clever mind long to understand.
The answer dawned on him as he turned the two objects in his hand, clenching them tightly in his metal fist. Created by an ancient at the time of Jenova, the white materia was the first Phoenix... a bird who's master took compassion on and released from its stony prison, to experience life as a freeborn creature instead of a slave. It was then that the Holy materia gained its light... the purity of hearts cleansed the rock, freeing the bird from its prison. But such a magnificent creature was not created to live in such a harsh cruel world... and so its light was lost with time. Only one event during its life would it ever regain its original glory... and that was at its death.
"What about the Black materia though?" Vincent wondered. "Weren't they created to counter balance each other?" Once again he answered his own question, put together from tales he had overheard Aerith tell Cloud before Sephirah was born. With the light came the darkness. A rash young Cetra boy dared to slay the Phoenix, to find not only a solution to the disease that was plaguing them all, but for his personal glory so he could partake in the coming of age ceremonies and be appointed a man. Upon the death of the first phoenix, a stone fell from the sky, as well as a rain of charred feathers. A stone of pure evil... the materia of the Dark Phoenix. Angered at the death of his creation, the elder of the last of the Ancients sealed the stone, cursing its bearer and turning it into the ultimate puzzle of life. Or rather, the Temple of the Ancients, as it'd later be called.
And thus were the ultimate magic created... one sent to deal justice to a troubled world, the other to destroy what remained of the good in the Planet. Yet both had the power to give and take the lives of those who touched its spell...
The power of the Bird of Life.
