The Fifth Candle
Fulfillment of the Promise
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The child's cries were strong and loud as Professor Gast gently washed it free of blood. He smiled sadly at the tiny infant, stroking its face gently. He studiously ignored the lab assistant covering Lucrecia's body.
"Aye, but you're a healthy one," he murmured. "If your mother could see you now." He shook his head and carried the infant to the cradle they had placed beside Lucrecia's bed…what had become her deathbed. He placed the infant inside, then knelt beside it, studying the infant behind the bars. To his surprise and amusement he found the infant studying him back.
"You're certainly a bright one," he said. "I wonder if that's from the Ancient or your mother." The baby yawned, making Gast laugh. "Not that you care, I see."
Gast's expression grew ponderous.
"Do you understand," he mused, "just how important you are, little Sephiroth? Do you know just how special you are, just how much you have to teach?" He reached through the crib bars and stroked Sephiroth's cheek with a calloused finger. Then, heaving a great sigh, he stood. "I hope you do. And I must be going." His eyes grew haunted. "Damn Hojo for not admitting him entrance. I don't know how I'm going to tell Vincent Lucrecia's dead. He should have been there!" Gast shook his head. "But it's too late for regret, no matter how well-founded. The news must be broken, and I wouldn't have Hojo do it if the President gave me ten million gil. Wish me luck, little one." Sephiroth gurgled quietly, raising Gast's spirits just a little as walked out of the laboratory door. His only entertainment gone, Sephiroth yawned again, and drifted into a fitful sleep.
The sound of the door opening woke him from his slumber, and Sephiroth studied the stranger that crept into the room. The man made his way to the crib, and stood for a moment, stroking the baby's cheek, both silent.
"You have her eyes," the man whispered at last. "I couldn't save her, but I will save you. Hojo can't have you!" With that passionate declaration he moved to pick the infant up when a shot sounded. Sephiroth let out a fearful wail as the man gurgled sickly, then fell to his knees, collapsed against the rail of the crib.
Someone chuckled sinisterly, and Professor Hojo walked towards the crib, pocketing a gun.
"Nice try, Mr. Valentine," he said. "But futile in the end. I win." He shoved Vincent's body aside, muttering distractedly about demon implants and synthetic arms, and then knelt to speak with the baby.
"An idiot," he said. "Trying to take you away. Hmph! You're mine, and there's nothing he or Gast can do to change that!" He tried to touch the child, but Sephiroth shied away from his hand, whimpering fearfully. Hojo chuckled. "You're certainly a smart one. Good, good. Maybe then you'll understand my plans for you."
He leaned forward.
"You were born with Jenova cells," he said, "but I've decided to see if continued injections of them will increase your abilities. You'll also be showered with Mako. You see, child, I am going to make you the strongest, smartest, most perfect man in the world. You are going to be a testament to my genius. All of Gast's 'brilliant' works with PALE before you! I'll show them all what true talent is." He chuckled as he stood. "Be proud, boy. You are my "magnum opus", and I will never, ever let anyone take you away."
Sephiroth let out a fearful shriek, as if he understood that he was trapped in a gilded cage in hell. He cried, he wailed, he sobbed until his throat was hoarse and the only sound he could make were chocked whimpers, but nobody heard.
Dawn approached, and the brightest star faded out of the sky.
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Owari
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It's DONE!! *dances* Didn't turn out quite the way I hoped, but things rarely do. I hope, at least, that it brought you all a bit of pleasure. Merry Christmas!
Oh, and here's a little thing. You may or may not have been able to tell, but I had Gast, Vincent, and Hojo symbolize the three wise men. If you can guess which gift each brought (i.e. gold, frankincense, myrrh) I'll do….something. You want a fic, I'll give you a fic. You want a hug, I'll give you a hug. I won't give up writing, but most anything else is fair game. ^_^