Disclaimer: Do I really…?

Chapter 13

The group stayed in the hotel until the Highwind arrived. Cid was finally glad that his ship was finally fixed and ready to fly again. Aeris gasped in amazement at the majestic ship and Cid smiled in approval.

"This is it, young lady. The Highwind. The best thing there is in the sky."

"It's incredible."

Aeris began to explore the ship and was eventually leaded to the bridge where...

"Cait Sith!"

The cat-and-moogle pair turned at the sound of the voice.

"Aeris? You really are alive?"

Aeris smiles at him and Cait Sith jumps around.

"Oh, wow. I really missed you!"

Barret walks onto the bridge, "Hey, so it back to the cat suit, eh?"

Cait Sith nods, "I figured it would be appropriate. Now, where do we go?"

"We'll have to go to Junon and use the submarine. That's the only way to get to the falls."

Cid walked in, "Alright, Junon, it is." He yelled at his crew, "Well what are you waiting for? Let's get going!"

The crew quickly saluted and got into their stations. The massive airship slowly lifted off of the ground and suddenly shot through the air. Its destination, Junon.

Oh, Aeris. If ya want, you can go to the lower deck, but be careful."

Aeris smiled to him and nodded, "Okay." When she left, Cid though to himself, Nice to have a smiling face around for a change.

Aeris walked down the corridor and into the lower deck. She leaned on the rail as they swooped through the sky. Unknown to her, a certain dark cloaked figure was watching her.

"Oh, Aeris."

Flashback...

"Hey, Zack. What's wrong?"

"I have to go. I'm being sent out on another mission."

"Oh. Well, when will you be back?"

"I'm not sure. And frankly, I'm getting tired of it. But a friend of mine is going as well and he's a little...nervous. Especially with Sephiroth being there and all. I'm just helping him out a bit."

"I see."

"Don't worry. I'll be back before you know it."

"Zack. I...I have a bad feeling about this."

Zack turned to her. He knew she was...different from most people. He didn't know how, but he knew she was.

"How about this. I'll make this my last mission. Then I'll spend my time with you."

"I...I couldn't ask you to do something like that. I know how you are. You're the adventurous type. You'll be bored in minutes." She gave a slight giggle.

"Hey, that's not funny. I guess you do have a point. I could work as a mercenary. That way, I wouldn't have to be called for work. Hey, I could make my own hours!"

Aeris smiled and Zack took in into account, "See, now that's the smile that will bring me back." He held her close and gave her a tight hug, "I'll see ya later, okay?"

"Okay."

End Flashback

Zack looked at his right hand, now clawed and mutated. Aeris. I should have listened to you. Instead, I acted so recklessly and the mission turned into a living nightmare. The trip there, the fire, Sephiroth beating him, Hojo's experiments on him and Cloud, even when they had escaped and Zack was shot. But he didn't die. Rather Hojo had found another use for him. A nightmare that continues on today. I should have listened to you.

The Highwind finally reached its destination and settled down. Everyone went to the Junon docks and boarded the submarine. As it dove down, everyone seemed to notice that Vincent was a little nervous, which was hard to see for a guy like him.

"Are you okay?" Tifa asked him

"No." He turned his head, "When I last saw her, I told her that Sephiroth was dead. But I had lied to her and now I have to go back and tell her that he returned and we want her help to kill him." He suddenly snapped, "How do you think I feel!"

Tifa backed away a little, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked." She began to walk away.

"Wait. I'm sorry for snapping at you."

She turned back to him, "Its okay. I understand."

She gently squeezed his shoulder and he nodded to her. The sub finally re-surfaced and reached the waterfall. It was decided that only Vincent, Cloud, and Aeris should go in.

"Wait."

Vincent stuck out his hand.

"Let me go in first, alone."

Aeris looked at Cloud and he nodded and Vincent disappeared behind the water. Cloud and Aeris waited and for a long while, Vincent didn't show. Then after a few more minute, his head emerged from the fall.

"You can come now."

Cloud and Aeris followed him in. Underneath the fall was a tunnel that leads to an extremely large cave. At the far end, a feminine figure was etched in the stone, giving a ghastly visage. As they moved closer, the figure glowed and a shadowy figure of a woman emerged before them.

"So....my son lives."

"Yes. We need your help."

"You want me to help you kill my son?"

"Cloud looked down, "I don't know. All I know is that he has to be stopped somehow. And we believe that you can reach him."

"Is Hojo with him?"

".....Yes."

"Then I will accompany you. But I do not know what help I may be here like this. In between life and death."

Aeris stepped forward, "I think I can help you there. I'm going to try something. Are you ready?"

"Yes."

Aeris took out her rod and began to spiral it around. A green glow emanated around Aeris and shimmered to Lucrecia. She began to glow as well and the light grew brighter. After awhile, Vincent and Cloud had to cover their eyes and the light then began to dim. They both looked up to see Aeris leaning on her staff, facing a now alive Lucrecia.

"I'm...alive?" She stepped forward and stumbled to the ground, but Vincent instantly went over and caught her before she fell. He looked at her and gazed into her eyes. They were an aquamarine blue, deep and mystifying.

"I'm alive."

Cloud went over to Aeris, "What did you do?"

Aeris managed to get most of her breath back, "I've given her body back by restoring her original form. It's the same as what brought me back."

A low growl was suddenly heard. "What is that?"

Aeris answered, "I was afraid this might happen. Now without Lucrecia there, the Jenova cells are taking a life of their own." As she spoke, a monster grew out of the ground. It looked like one of the goblins on Goblin Island, but fifty times bigger and nastier. The creature roared and swung at them, but both of them jumped back. Vincent grabbed his rifle and called Aeris.

"Take care of her."

Aeris nodded and Vincent jumped into the fight. Spinning the rifle, he fired, injuring the monster and getting him mad. Cloud took advantage and jumped in to attack, but the monster swung at him and he fell down. Vincent jumped up and fired several more rounds, but the beast only got angrier. It lashed out and hit Vincent, knocking his gun away from him. As he struggled to get up, the monster was about to come down on him.

"Fire3!"

Cloud shot his arms forward and a missive fire explosion hit the beast. It roared in pain and lashed out its tail. Cloud rolled, charged, and hit the monster with a kick-punch combination. But the tail grabbed Cloud and lifted him upward. Vincent took note of the fight. It doesn't like fire. Okay.

Vincent stood up and called upon the highest materia magic. Several orbs with symbols around him appeared and Vincent shot his hands out.

"Hell Fire!"

Before him, the ground suddenly exploded and out jumped the fire demon, Ifrit. Ifrit growled and fire escaped his mouth. Summoning his energy around him, Ifrit rushed at the monster and brought with him a wave of fire. The wave pummels the monster and it dropped Cloud. Vincent grabbed his rifle and aimed once again. Saying nothing, he fired the lethal shot and the monster roared in pain and fell down. It faded away and Vincent spun his rifle around and hooked it to his belt.

"Let's get out of here."

AN: That was difficult. But as I write this, a new idea has sprung into my head. What is it? Well, you'll just have to wait and see. Oh, I think you'll love it though.