Chapter 7
~ The War: Lifestream ~
(A/N: It's been a little while since I started on this, and I really love it and want to finish it. If something seems a little out of line from this point on, bare with me, I apologize. I'm working on it!)
"Shh!" Zack whispered, leaning down below the mound and his hand on his sword. "Keep your head low."
Quickly on his trail, Cloud and Ifalna slid through the rubble of the buildings that was spread out across the streets. Cloud carried a long sword much like the large Buster Sword Zack carried. Ifalna carried a long staff and brought up the rear, keeping an eye out for anything trailing her.
"What are we looking for, exactly?" Cloud asked when they leaned up against some rubble to rest for a moment.
Ifalna fell into the rubble next to him and leaned in close. "Cetra Warriors. They like to hide in the shadows and dart out. Very skilled warriors."
"And they'll not have any trouble finding us if you two don't quiet down," Zack whispered harshly.
Not far away, the occasional explosion sounded out, often preceeded by a flash. Already, they watched as several different soldiers, mostly dressed in Shinra uniforms darted down the streets. A green blast, looking much like Ultima shot out over their heads and ripped through several buildings not long ago.
"Where are we?" Cloud asked very, very quietly.
"Nalea, the common city," Ifalna answered. "It was very beautiful not long ago. Since the war erupted, however, its been in ruins."
"Shhh," Zack whispered, looking over the rubble. "Cetra. They have someone."
Cloud looked over the edge of the wall to the street. Three warriors wearing long brown robes and carrying long swords pushed what looked like a civilian to the ground.
"Wait," Cloud whispered, looking at the man. "I know him. It'sTifa's father, isn't it?"
"How should I know?" Ifalna asked. "I've never met him."
"What are they going to do to him?" Cloud asked.
"Probably destroy his soul," Zack said solemnly. "Poor bastard."
Cloud looked carefully at Zack. Then, biting his lip, he launched himself over the rubble and charged at the Cetra.
"Cloud, what are you doing?" Zack yelled, jumping over the rubble.
The soldier darted across the rubble and swept his sword through the first Cetra. Instantly, the soldier disappeared into nothingness. The other soldiers weren't so startled, however.
The first soldier raised his hand and a flash of fire shot out from it.
Cloud rolled away from the burst and slid down the path, dragging his sword up and into the second Cetra Soldier.
The third soldier raised his hand. Cloud started to turn, but before he could strike, the Soldier was gone. Ifalna stood there, staff still raised. She had taken him out by herself.
Sweat rolled down Cloud's forehead as he looked around.
Zack grabbed the soldier and dragged him out of the open and into some rubble. "Listen, here!" he whispered. "You can't just go out and fight the Cetra! You were lucky this time, but they're not just average Shinra Soldiers! They will kill you then destroy your soul, and all will be lost!"
Ifalna slid into the rubble, guiding the civilian to safety. The man was panting hard. "Th–thank you," he said, looking distant.
Zack turned to Tifa's father and moved his hand up and down. The man disappeared in a flash.
"What did you do to him?" Cloud asked increadulously.
"Don't worry, D–Cloud," Ifalna whispered.
"I sent him to his home. He is safe."
"The lines are shifting," Ifalna said, looking to Zack suddenly. "We need to move, now!"
"Are you sure?" Zack asked.
"Of course," Ifalna cried. "I can feel them coming. I think they can sense him!"
"Cloud?" Zack asked.
"I'm not sure, but we have to move, now!" Ifalna cried.
She grabbed Cloud's hand and darted down the road, Zack in tow, looking around to make sure no one was coming.
"We're all going to be destroyed, aren't we?" Zack whispered to himself. "Damn it."
***
"Wake up, little one," the cold voice echoed through the chamber again.
Aeris felt like she did not long ago when her mother would call her to wake up at her house. She rolled over and pulled the blanket over. The Blanket, however, was covered in a thick, slimy goo. Aeris lifted her hand off the blanket and looked at it. She quickly realized that it wasn't the blanket that was filled with goo, but her. She was spreading it out on the bed and sheets.
"Good morning, my sweet," Eirin laughed. "Are we not disgusted by the Dark Waters of the Lifestream, yet?"
Aeris looked around the room. She was in an elaborately decorated room in the Castle of the Ancients. She turned and looked at Eirin and let out a slow, but painful little laugh. "Not as disgusted as I am by being around you."
Eirin sighed. "Why do I bother?" he asked. "I suppose you'll need one more day in the dark waters?"
"No, wait," Aeris whispered. She then put her hand to her mouth in surprise.
Eirin turned and laughed. "Perhaps we are starting to realize just how bad the waters are? So, are we ready to go back to the Dark Waters, or shall we maybe just sit and talk for a moment?"
Aeris looked out the window. It looked as though a long golden wheat field lay outside of the castle. Suddenly, the castle didn't seem so dark, and the company didn't seem so bad.
"Yes, Aeris," Eirin whispered. "He isn't coming for you, I'm sorry. Your dear Strife has been killed."
"No, he hasn't," Aeris whispered. "He couldn't have."
"Then why don't you feel him?" Eirin asked, smiling as he sat on the bed.
"My–my nerves. I'm–I'm still a littleout of it from the Dark Waters," Aeris reluctantly said.
"But, I should think that Dark Waters could never come between two lovers as close as you," Eirin laughed.
"I–It shouldn't," Aeris whispered. "I–I'm just tiredand messyand I justI just can't concentrate."
"Don't be a fool, little one," Eirin whispered, brushing one of her long stray hairs back from her face. "Strife is not your destined one. I am. Let us join and rule over the world as we see fit. You can finally bring peace and happiness to all you care about."
"At what cost?" Aeris asked, looking Eirin in the eyes. "At what price do I have to pay, to rule the world, if I lose my own soul in the process?"
Eirin let out another audible sigh. "I try to reason with you. I suppose you do, indeed, need another day in the Dark Waters. Guard."
"NO, Wait!" Aeris gasped, reaching out to him. "No, I can't go back there. IT's too much."
"One more day is all," Eirin smiled, looking down at Aeris as though she were a helpless child. "After that I don't doubt for a minute you'll see me as you should. As your lover."
As the guards dragged her off, Aeris screamed and fought. Finally, when they were out of the room, one of the guards hit her across the face with his staff. She was out cold.
***
"Here they come!" Zack yelled.
Three great bolts of lightning shot down from the sky, causing massive explosions along the ground.
Cloud, Ifalna and Zack ducked and dodged the debris kicked up from the explosions.
Hundreds, even thousands of Cetra Soldiers poured over the hill and down the streets between the buildings. Most of the raised their arms and various attacks shot out from their hands.
Before most could hit, however, a barrier was cast between them and the trio. The human army swarmed from the other hill-top and swarmed down streets.
"We're smack in the middle of it all!" Ifalna yelled.
"Then MOVE!" Zack screamed.
The three shot up the street as fast as they could. Immediately behind them the two armies slammed into one another, slicing and casting spells all over the place.
Debris and even bodies flew over Cloud's head. Soldiers jumped out from buildings trying to attack him. Zack and Ifalna attacked the soldiers and took care of them, however.
One thing Cloud had to admit, Ifalna was a true warrior. She could fight as well as Zack, and maybe even better.
"Stop gawking and MOVE!" Ifalna yelled.
A building behind them blew out in a great fireball, sending bodies flying everywhere. Cloud and Ifalna dodged around a corner while Zack took out two more soldiers jumping after them.
"We're not far from the Dark Waters, Zack! Does he need to go in at a certain place?"
"No, he'll be able to find her through the waters!" Zack yelled. "You DO still feel her, right, Cloud?"
Cloud nodded. It was fading, but he could still sense Aeris's soul.
Ifalna grabbed Cloud's hand and pulled him down the long street. It was clear running ahead, but the occasional blast of ice, fire, or lightning, would send them dodging out of the way.
"Cloud, listen to me, okay!" Ifalna yelled as Zack took the point. "The Dark Waters are what nightmares are made of. They're your own version of Hell. You will have to fight through your own fears first. Don't let them stop you! Then, you'll have to seek out Mom and help her fight her demons. Once done, get out of the waters and get back to your own Heaven. Mom should know how to get you there. Once there, leave the Lifestream. I don't know how, but you're going to have to figure it out. Maybe mom knows how they do it, but you have to get out while you can! Do you understand?"
Cloud nodded as he ducked another fireball. They were running down the street as fast as they could. Just before they came to the bridge where the dark, dark green waters ran, a huge soldier jumped out, knocking Zack's sword out from his hand. With another blow, he knocked Zack against the wall behind him.
"Zack!" Ifalna yelled. She turned and thrust her staff into the Cetra's gut, but it knocked the staff away and grabbed her arm lifting her into the air. "Cloud! Go!" she yelled.
Cloud hesitated, he pulled his sword out and turned to attack the soldier. Before he could take a step, however, he was shoved by an unseen person into the dark waters.
Just as he fell in, he saw the face of the man who pushed him in. It was a familiar, and all together surprising, face.
After Cloud went under the dark waters, the man turned and shot forward, sending his long blade through the Cetra's gut, causing it to disappear.
"You okay?" the man asked, looking down at Ifalna.
"Yeah. Did Dad make it?" she asked.
"Yeah. Is Zack okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine. I don't know we could have done it without you, Sephiroth," Zack said, looking at the white-haired man standing in front of him.
Sephiroth looked over the waters. "Now, it's up to him. Pull the army back. Our price for that small victory is this side of the city. Hurry, before we lose too many men."
"Yes, sir," Zack said, saluting, then running off.
Ifalna looked out at the waters. She longed to join them.
"Don't think of it," Sephiroth said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "It's their battle, now."
***
Cloud opened his eyes slowly. Fires raged about him. Nibleheim was on fire again. Nearby, Cloud knew his mother was already dead.
"No" he whispered, tears flowing from his eyes as he looked up to the heavens. "Not again"