Chapter 20
WHEN THE ANGEL DESERVES TO DIE
The surrounding is engulfed in darkness in no time. Everyone involved in the heat of the battle looks at each other with clueless look. Dark High cannot move its body, it is completely stunned on its place. In short time, there comes thundering sound as knights come over, flooding Dark High with massive and heavy attacks. The creature cannot do anything but to accept every merciless slashes and stabs to its body, flowing through its painful scream every time those knights land their blow. Eventually its claw that grabs Vic's head goes weaker, and Vic really sees it as chance. By swinging left and right once more, the young Cetra is finally able to release himself and lands on the ground safely. Just after Vic reaches the ground, he quickly leaps into Aeris and pulls her from harmful spot.
"No…it can't be….", Tifa lets out her thought to the others, barely audible. "It's Knights of The Round….", Yuffie adds with disbelief tone. "Cloud's dead…who else can do it ?", Red XIII asks himself, confused. Before they can let out another surprised words, something already distracts their puzzled state. Finally, Arthur has come. With his giant sword, the knight master slashes Dark High with powerful attack, making the creature roars loudly in pain. This time, it roars so loud that The Avalanches must cover their ears and they feel the ground shakes lightly. Shortly afterwards, the darkness that once swallowed them gradually fades out and everyone now notices familiar surrounding again. Meanwhile, Dark High, from its standing position, suddenly falls on the ground with loud noise. Its green blood now forms pool around it.
For some seconds, The Avalanches wait for next thing nervously, as if they would see the monster stands up and attacks them again, but after a minute in silence, there is no movement from Dark High.
"Yaaayyy !!! Victory !!", Yuffie finally jumps up and yells in triumph. "Hold on a sec, you lil brat !", Cid roughly protests her action. Yuffie glares at the pilot with vicious look after she landed again. Placing her hands on her waist, she responds with irritating tone, "What do you mean, Mr. Mighty Ciddy Highwindy ? You don't like seeing we're safe now huh ? Now I'll… ".
"Do you know who @#*&^ performed Knights of The Round ?", Cid cuts her off, ignoring her previous response. Suddenly Vincent adds, "You're right…do you think he is….".
"CLOUD !!!"
Aeris' voice abruptly distracts others' attention and makes them turn their head to the source. There, they see Aeris is kneeling down next to a lying body. Cloud. He is still lying on his previous spot. Aeris' body is eventually choking lightly. The others assume she is still mourning her forbidden-beloved person, and it makes them feel sorry. However, they begin to think about other thing, yet shocked, when they notice Aeris laughs a little, gradually turns into louder one. Upon seeing this weirdness, Vic and Tifa run to Aeris with concerned expression.
"Does she lost her mind…?", Yuffie pops up question to the others, she sounds worried. Barret only sighs deeply and shrugs his shoulder.
"I don't know…Either she has lost her sanity or something good really happens….", Vincent mumbles in low but concerned voice, much like an answer to Yuffie's question.
"Poor Aeris….poor Tifa….", Cait Sith sadly adds, "now none of them will feel happiness….". The toysaurus reflects in his mind when Aeris asked him to do fortune telling about her relationship with Cloud in the future, regardless Tifa's presence. He then follows what Barret did, letting out a deep sigh, feeling sorry for those girls now.
"CLOUD !!!"
Now it is Tifa's turn to confuse the others. Just like Aeris, she is laughing a little now, her face is painted with tears flowing on her cheeks. A broad grin sticks on her visage. Barret, Yuffie, and Cid's eyes go wide to see her, they look at each other with more confused look.
"You're alive Dad...Cloud !!!" Vic's relieved voice is now heard. His words quickly light up the idea inside the others' mind.
"WHAATT !!!???". Yuffie, Barret, Cait Sith, Cid, Red, and even Vincent, shout together in choir. Quickly they dash toward Cloud's lying spot with excitement envelopes their curious hearts.
"Cloud…oh…Cloud….you're alive….", Aeris caresses Cloud's cheek lovingly while letting her eyes pour joyful tears, "I'm really happy….really….". Eventually she laughs sweetly in middle of her cry, reassured. She and Cloud look at each other without letting any words out, until Tifa comes and kneels next to her. With her trembling fingers, she slowly traverses every inches of Cloud's bruised face while looking into his eyes warmly. Realizing that Tifa is sitting next to her and that she "deserves" Cloud better, Aeris slowly removes her hand from his cheek, giving chance for Tifa to express her feeling to Cloud, although Aeris really wants to do more than that.
"Cloud….", Tifa calls his name gently. She cannot find suitable words to express her feeling. Happiness, joy, relieved heart, hope, everything does fine to her heart.
"I'm here…", Cloud finally speaks up weakly, a smile is formed slowly on his face. After taking a breath, Cloud looks at Tifa and Aeris back and forth. He keeps on smiling to those girls. Eventually his eyes meet Vic's smiling face. Cloud does not know why and how, but somehow he feels warmth hugs his heart to see Vic…and Aeris as well. He feels his heart feels close to them. After all, he must admit that he is also very happy and comfortable to see Tifa in front of him now, caring about him very much.
"Aeris…I…Planet…talked to me….it brought me back to life….", Cloud stutters, explaining his condition, "but I guess I'm still worn out now….". He chuckles a little, until several coughs stop him from doing so. Aeris is going to ease him, but Tifa already does it. She holds Cloud's body for a moment until his cough is gone.
"Take it easy Cloud…please…", Tifa's soft voice makes Cloud smile at her, comforted. He nods slowly, "Sure, Tifa….I hope it's over now….".
"Hey, kid !! Did you give that #$&^ freakin' @*(*^ Knights of The Round ?!!". Suddenly Cid's rough voice joins in. Now the rest are coming. Cloud only smiles to see his friends. Although Cid's greeting did not sound so warm, Cloud knows that the pilot is very delighted to see him back to life. Raising his hand slowly, Cloud gives answer with his thumb pointing up. Cid only grins at him.
"You Ciddy Higwindy ! Can't you just shut up your blabbering mouth !!?? Cloud is still wounded and you didn't care about his wound at all !". Now Yuffie uses this chance to retaliate on Cid. Quickly, Cid shouts back at her madly, "What !!?? You &^$ dare to call me Ciddy ???!!!". Yuffie only sticks out her tongue to Cid, which makes the pilot goes madder. His face turns to red and is going to "explode", but Barret's pat on his shoulder cools him down a little.
"Very touching…..". All of a sudden, a familiar voice strikes everyone's mind. Aeris feels cold on her spine as she recognizes the voice. Vic clenches his fist tightly, he also knows the voice very well. The others now lift their heads and see a figure is standing in front of them.
"Serras….", Aeris whispers, narrowing her eyes. Serras, with anger and hatred burned in his eyes, looks at his enemies, one by one. His body is wounded everywhere, and there is strange glowing light around his body. His long hair now becomes messy. Slowly, he approaches The Avalanches.
"You….do you know that Dark High is embodiment of Dark Ancients' spirit ?". The priest keeps on talking as he makes every step. Knowing that there will be extended fight, Cloud tries to wake up, but quickly Tifa embraces him, not letting him go again.
"You killed Dark High, it means you also killed Dark Ancients' people…I…as their high priest…must revenge them !!!". Serras suddenly stops and concentrates on something. The strange light that glows around his body now goes brighter. Meanwhile, Aeris and Vic just look at each other. Eventually, Aeris stares at Cloud, and without hesitation, she stands up from her kneeling position.
"Aeris…?", Cloud and Tifa inquiries her action. Aeris only smiles as response, she once again gazes to Cloud's eyes deeply. "Cloud….be alive…be happy….I love you…", she says her words almost in whisper, as if there is a true farewell beyond them. Cloud's eyes go wide, shocked to hear Aeris' words. Before he reacts, Aeris already leaves him.
"Be careful Tifa, please take care of Cloud….and thanks very much…", Aeris now speaks to Tifa. Tifa can only let her mouth opened. "Aeris….", she can only calls her name, worried.
"You won't touch us again !!!", Red XIII suddenly dashes toward Serras, he then jumps to the priest and sends his claw, but he only finds empty space when he hits the target. The others see what happened with shocked expression. Red was sure ramming Serras, and Serras did not move at all, but it is inevitable fact that Red was only passing through Serras' body. After having his legs land on the ground, Red turns his body, confusion is clearly expressed on his face.
"What trick…??!!", Red mumbles something. Before his puzzled state turns back into normal, Serras already throws him away with unseen force from his palm. The red beast growls when his back meets the rocky ground.
"I'm untouchable now, but I can touch you, mortals…This is my highest power !", Serras says, followed by mad laughter. The Avalanche members understand that they will soon be involved in prolonged fight, meanwhile they are exhausted now.
"Vic…come on…we've got to fight !", Aeris calls Vic. He turns his face to Aeris and nods. Finally they both draw their weapons, guarding Cloud and the others. "There must be a way…", Vic whispers to himself after witnessing Serras' another ability.
Only blood of pure Cetra can wash the darkness….
Quickly, Vic and Aeris take a look at each other with surprised expression. Planet told something again to them.
…and Ancient water will perish all evils….
Vic stares deeply into Aeris' green eyes as he wants to make sure that she heard what he heard too. Planet's voice, Planet's wisdom. They know there must be something beyond it.
"Prepare your death, Cetra !!!", Serras yells loudly as he jumps toward Aeris with his palm emitting a blast of unseen energy. This time, although she is exhausted, the flower girl already prepares everything. Dodging Serras' attack successfully, she then touches her wounded flesh until her palm is covered with her blood, and finally with her might, she tries to push Serras away. Much to her surprise, yet expectation, there comes green mist when her bloody palm touches Serras' body. The Dark Ancient's priest cries out, very shocked. Aeris does not hurt Serras physically, but for him, it is very unpredicted thing.
"That's it ! Blood of Cetra !!", Vic exclaims excitedly as he jumps to the battle arena, wiping his sword with his fresh blood from one of his wounds, "you made us bleeding, and now our blood will destroy you, Serras !". Vic swings his masamune swiftly at Serras, but the priest parries it with unseen force from his palm. The same green mist comes up when Vic's Final Glitter collides with Serras' energy. At the same time, Aeris thrusts her Princess Guard without doubt toward Serras' chest. Serras lets out a painful sound as Princess Guard's blunt tip hits him. Aeris dashes forward while pushing her staff to Serras' body, dragging him backward, toward Ancient lake.
At a moment, Serras finally realizes that the female Cetra attacked him for a hidden intention, and when he gains his mind completely, he lets out a powerful scream, and with that, Aeris and Vic are thrown away from his body, forced by unseen force.
"Vic ! We can defeat him ! You must remember he relied on Incarnation Day, but he made one mistake…", Aeris looks at Serras sharply, "you, Serras, were too fast to get out from The Barrier ! Thus, you didn't gain your perfect power !". Aeris' explanation snaps something inside Vic's brain.
"So you know it, Cetra…", Serras responds to her, "I knew that, and I took risk for killing you so Incarnation Day will come sooner…but I'm wrong….You're really worth as enemy. Now, I may die, but I won't die alone…I'll bring you together !!". Serras suddenly jumps to Aeris, his hands are about to grab her. Aeris narrows her eyes upon seeing this attack, she then poses herself for counter attack when suddenly she feels something from behind flies over her head and penetrates Serras' body. It is Final Glitter, Vic's masamune. It is thrown from Vic's spot to protect Aeris. Serras coughs as Vic's sword goes through his body, but he does not seem to give up. His hands are still on the way to grab Aeris until finally they make it. Aeris gasps when Serras holds her tightly, with Final Glitter is still embedded on his chest.
"What…are you making to me…?", Aeris stutters, tries to release herself from Serras. The priest does not reply, but something strange happened on his body. Glowing light that wraps his body now also wraps her too.
"We'll die together Cetra….mwahahahhhaa !!!", Serras laughs madly while holding Aeris tighter. The flower girl understands that she must escape from his plan if she wishes to stay alive. As much as she struggles, she also feels her consciousness goes into void with slow but certain pace, her power is diminishing gradually.
"Tifa…release me…let's help Aeris…", Cloud says to Tifa in weak voice. Tifa only looks at him with worried look. He is not prepared for fight, but when Cloud shows her Knights of The Round materia, she understands. "I don't know whether this will work…or my energy is suffice, but…we just can't let Aeris die !", Cloud bites his lip and begins to concentrate, but suddenly…
"Release her !!!!", Vic shouts at Serras as he jumps to the priest. With powerful kick that lands on Serras' face, Serras involuntarily lets his hands go from Aeris. When Vic lands on the ground, he rams Serras and grabs him, completely removing Aeris from another danger.
"Now…let's finish this once and for all !!!". Vic pushes his sword that was already on Serras' chest deeper. The Dark Ancient's priest screams loudly, but Vic keeps on pushing his sword, forcing him to Ancient lake. Suddenly, Serras grabs Vic's arms, and the glowing light now wraps the young Cetra too. Vic gasps to know that he is in danger now, so he jumps toward Ancient lake, with Serras is still grabbing him.
"NOOOOOO !!!!". There comes out Serras' loud scream when he and Vic touches Ancient lake's surface. Water splashes everywhere when those Ancients go deeper into lake, struggling for their lives. The rest quickly approach the lake, very curious, yet worried to see what happens next.
Beneath the Ancient lake, Vic witnesses a view he has never seen before. He is still struggling to release himself from Serras when suddenly he sees familiar green tendrils are coming from the depth of the lake. Those green tendrils are wrapping Serras' body quickly, suppressing the glowing light from his body. Slowly, his body is dissipated, gradually every his limbs disappears. From his expression, this phenomenon seems to hurt the priest. His eyes open wide, his mouth is opened. Meanwhile, the green tendrils now are completely wrapping Serras and pulling him toward the bottom, still dissipating his body.
When those things happened, Vic can only watch with awe, but when he realizes that Serras is still grabbing him and he finds his lungs cry for air, he knows he still has something to do. Using his last remaining strength, Vic wriggles powerfully and with one stamps on with force, he finally releases himself from Serras. The priest can only watch Vic with anger and hatred in his eyes, while those green tendrils still pulling him deeper to the depth of the lake. From his eyes, Vic can be very sure that Serras cannot accept his fate, yet he must pay what he has done.
……..
Vic is swimming on his way to lake edge when his friends cheer him up. He knows he is very weak, but seeing how his friends' relieved looks come to him, he does not want to let them down. With his thumb pointing up, he signs them the result, making them cheer in triumph once more. When he reaches the ground again, Yuffie is the first who approaches him with joyful expression, followed by the others.
"You're great, Vic !!!", Yuffie adores him cheerfully. "Yo kid !! Ya really did it !!", Barret's gruff voice now joins in. His smile goes broader. "Darn, I never thought you &#$^ beat that punk !!", Cid shows his appreciation. Red XIII looks at him with full of contentment, and Vincent just looks at him, but Vic can tell the grave man is smiling faintly at him. Cait Sith hops around him and tells him again and again how he saved them all.
Vic eventually looks at Cloud, Tifa, and Aeris. They all smile to him, Vic can feel their sincerity, and slowly he approaches them.
It's over, Cetra….this matter is really settled…the menace is gone….thank you….
Aeris looks at Vic, still smiling at him. "You heard it ?", she asks. The others only look at Aeris and Vic with puzzled look, but they soon understand those Cetras are talking about their things. Vic smiles, nods his head, and replies shortly, "Yeah…"
"You save the day, Vic…", Cloud finally gives his gratitude and smiles at him. "And we're all still alive…", Tifa adds with soft voice, resting her head on Cloud's shoulder.
Once more, Vic looks at his friends, one by one. His mission is accomplished. His mission from the future, to save his to-be-mother, meets its goal. This makes his hearts flutter in true joy. He successfully changes his past to gain a better future.
Now there's one thing to settle….Again, he looks at Tifa, Aeris and Cloud standing side by side. Somehow he does not know how to settle so-called "one thing to settle". Obviously, he never knows that the love triangle is so complicated that he even has another thought to let his Auntie Tifa gets his Daddy Cloud, but his Mommy Aeris still deserves Cloud though.
AUTHOR'S POST-CHAPTER NOTE :
Okay, the villain's gone ! The action/adventure part is finished…and now with the romance part…heeheehee…I promise you, I'll settle this love triangle on next incoming chapters ! And oh, by the way, what do you think about this fanfic ? CloTi ? CloRis ? Although Vic is Aeris and Cloud's son from the future, it does not always guarantee that ! The future may change….or not ?
Anyhow, please please press my favorite button below, the 'Go' of 'Submit a review' ! TTFN (Tata For Now…)