Chapter 5 - Flight
Reno looked at the other Turks; he could see Rude was talking to Tifa, the girl he liked. Although Rude knew he had no chance, he still liked to talk to her. Elena was talking to Yuffie about Materia and how to use it more effectively in battle.
As he walked over to Cloud he could hear him and Reeve arguing about if the Turks should join up with Avalanche.
"What I'd like to know is how Sephiroth survived, you haven't told us yet." Reno interrupted the two men.
"We don't know how he survived, Reno. All we know is that he's back, and trying to carry on what he started." Cloud turned round to look at the red headed Turk.
"So, you screwed up.. that it?" Reno replied acidly.
"Reno!" Reeve glared at him.
"Sorry, what I'd like to say is that we almost messed your plans last time, and you still stopped Meteor, this time, we want to help bring Sephiroth down. We've had enough of being the ones on the reciving end of a kicking" Reno smiled.
"Well?" Reeve turned to Cloud "That's what I've been telling you"
"Fine, they're in Avalanche" Cloud gave in "But if they screw up I'll not be held responsible for my actions"
"We won't, but let's get one thing straight, I'm still the leader of the Turks" Reno said walking off towards both Aeris and Angel, who were looking uneasy. "What's up with you two, I've never seen anyone so jumpy"
Aeris jumped "Don't do that Reno" she began "I don't know, something doesn't feel right"
"How?" Reno wanted to know turning to Angel.
"Don't ask me… I've no idea either" Angel replied "Although; it feels similar to what I felt in the City…"
"The City?" Reno asked curious.
"Just before Sephiroth" Angel stopped as she realised what she was saying "CLOUD get everyone ready, I sense trouble" Angel yelled to everyone as she drew her sword.
"So, dear Sister, you can tell when I'm near. I'm impressed" A voice came from the trees above them. "Why do you waste your time with these miserable humans? Mother would be glad to have you join us"
"Sephiroth, you're dead!" Cloud exclaimed as he ran towards Sephiroth, his sword ready to strike.
"Was it something I did?" Sephiroth looked amused, sending Cloud flying to the other end of the burnt out village. Tifa ran over to help him up.
"I'll never join Jenova, Sephiroth" Angel replied "She isn't our mother, she's manipulating you."
"Liar. Sister, I give you this one chance; otherwise I'll destroy you, like I'll destroy all traitors to Mother." Sephiroth replied.
"You tried to kill me once Sephiroth, in the city. You killed all these innocent people" Angel pointed to the burnt out village "and you've tried to destroy the planet, which I'm sworn to protect. There's no way I'll help Jenova. If I must, I will kill you Sephy" Angel replied, her voice getting stronger as she spoke. She didn't want to harm Sephiroth, and Sephiroth knew it, he knew if he pushed her, he might get her on his side.
Avalanche watched the battle of wills developing between the siblings, fearful of what would happen if Angel's resolve should fail.
"That was a mistake, I wanted the Cetra dead, you got in the way" Sephiroth's eyes narrowed at the use of his nickname. "Join us, or I will destroy another town"
"No, you won't destroy another town as long as I live, and I won't join you!" Angel almost screamed at him.
"Have it your way Sis" Sephiroth said, flying higher "I hope you don't mind Cosmo Canyon going up in flames" Sephiroth laughed before speeding away.
"He wouldn't????" Red looked at the receding form of Sephiroth in horror. All of Avalanche had tried to attack him in the time that he had been talking to Angel, but something had kept them back. Aeris had only managed to break the spell as he had flown away.
"Not if I have anything to say about it Red" Angel replied as she started to run after Sephiroth.
"Be sensible, there's no way you'll catch him on foot. We'll get him with the Highwind" Vincent called out to her.
"I have to do something now, this is my fault" Angel called back before using the haste spell.
"Shit" Cid exclaimed "She's gonna get herself killed. There's no way she'll be able to stop him"
"I'm not sure about that, Everyone.. to the Highwind" Cloud told them "Sephiroth is taunting her, the same as he did to me remember"
"Why can't things be easy?" Yuffie complained as they ran to the airship.
Sephiroth stood on a cliff watching the figure of his sister approaching from the direction of Gongaga. He smiled; in the distance he could see the Highwind, although it wouldn't reach them both for at least another fifteen minutes. That was plenty of time to do what he had to do. As Angel reached the top of the cliff he drew his sword and lashed out at her.
"Traitor" he said, "You have betrayed your mother! Now you will die"
Angel managed to block the sword thrust with her own weapon, now that she was facing her brother alone she realised that she didn't want to harm him. In all the years they had put up with Soldier training, he was the only person she trusted. She only had one option; she would try to break Jenova's hold over him.
"Haven't you wondered where I've been all these years?" she countered, as she began an attack sequence. Sephiroth blocked the move as easily as she had blocked his. "Have you ever wondered why I disappeared?"
"Hojo told me you had gone insane and tried to kill him, pity you didn't. He was a pitiful man" Sephiroth replied, as he cast multiple spells and watched as Angel dodged them all.
"Shows what you know. Hojo shot me with a tranquilliser, and put me in cryogenic suspension." Angel retorted as she retaliated with elemental spells of her own.
"And why would he do that if you hadn't gone berserk?" Sephiroth asked, "You were an embarrassment to Shin-ra, it took years to escape from the rumours and the suspicions."
"So the reason you do this is to get back at everyone for embarrassing you? I thought you were more intelligent than that. Hojo shot me because I found out the truth of the Jenova project. He shot me to prevent me from telling you!" Angel screamed the last line at him as she parried more weapon strokes.
"Liar" Sephiroth replied, "Mother told me the truth, you couldn't handle what was done. You went crazy. I'm not the one that's insane, YOU are!" Sephiroth began casting the Supernova spell.
On the Highwind, Avalanche were out on the deck, they had only just got into range of the fight and they could now see and hear everything that was going on.
"She's gonna be killed!" Tifa exclaimed "That spell almost wiped us out when we encountered it!"
"No she won't be, watch" Aeris said with a small smile on her face.
"What's she doin'? She's not fightin' him!" Barret asked puzzled.
"I don't believe it!" Cid exclaimed "I don't %^$%^ believe it, she's trying to persuade him to turn away from Jenova!!!"
Angel watched as Sephiroth finished the spell, and knew there was only one way to survive it. She immediately cast her second ultimate limit spell, the one Aeris had taught her. Great Gospel. The Supernova spell didn't harm her one bit as the shield it created prevented all harm to her. Angel looked at Sephiroth, who had backed off. He knew the implications of that spell and also knew only Cetra could cast it. She thrust her weapon, point first, into the ground and looked at Sephiroth.
"When have I ever lied to you Sephy? You're believing the lie. If you want to know the truth then renounce Jenova. Help us stop her; she's the one manipulating you. I'm not the one who's crazy." Angel folded her arms and waited. She could see the inner struggle in Sephiroth's eyes as he tried to rationalise what he had just seen.
Back on the Highwind there were gasps of relief when they saw the Great Gospel spell. Cloud turned to Aeris "Did you.." he began as Aeris shook her head.
"No, Angel knows the spell as well as me. Remember, she's Cetra too"
"Now what's she up to?" Reeve asked as he watched Angel walk over to Sephiroth and hug him.
"No idea, I'm beginning to wonder if she's as crazy as he is" Reno replied. "No-one in their right mind would go near him"
Angel held Sephiroth's shoulders "Do you understand Sephiroth. Jenova is the liar, why would anyone want to destroy this planet? Jenova is the one who wants to become a god. She would have discarded you, and you would have died. You used to be the most respected Soldier from what I've heard, until this. Now you are feared by everyone, they think of you as insane and as a destroyer, a murderer. Do you really want that as your legacy?" She asked looking into his eyes. The proximity of the Holy materia cleared Sephiroth's mind, for the first time in over five years, of the influence of Jenova.
"Angel.. Sis… Jenova?" Sephiroth started unsure of what to say.
"Holy has stopped Jenova's influence Seph, you're free of her. However, you have to want to stay free of her influence otherwise I can do nothing else" Angel replied sadly. "Please, reject her; otherwise I dread what I'll have to do."
"Sis… I…"
"She lies, you are mine Sephiroth, Finish her!" an angry voice rang out as the form of am unearthly woman appeared behind Angel. The woman was far taller than any of them, and a strange shade of purple. Instead of arms, she had long tentacles, and appeared to be floating above the ground. She lashed out at Angel, sending her flying towards the edge of the cliff.
"No, I won't" Sephiroth told Jenova "She is my sister, leave her alone!"
On the Highwind Avalanche couldn't believe what they were hearing. Sephiroth was rejecting Jenova; he was turning against the creature that had manipulated him and protecting his sister.
"So, that's the decision you've made the. Fine. This is what happens to all who turn away from my power" Jenova replied as she picked the stunned Angel off the floor and threw her off the cliff. This was her biggest mistake. Jenova might have been able to take control of Sephiroth again if she hadn't threatened Angel; this broke all her control over Sephiroth.
"ANGEL!" Sephiroth screamed as he saw his sister fall. He knew he could help her if he hurried, so he ran towards where Angel had been. Jenova however blocked his path.
"Traitor. You have betrayed your own mother. If you wish to save the other traitor then you'll have to go through me!" Jenova told him smugly, knowing that he wouldn't be able to save his sister. Jenova also knew the airship that was circling wasn't in the right position to help.
"Come on we have to stop Jenova" Aeris said to the group " Even if it means helping Sephiroth"
"No way!" Cloud replied, "I'll never help him!"
"Angel trusted you Cloud, she tried to turn Sephiroth and succeeded. The least we can do is help him kill Jenova" Aeris replied hotly, she knew the attitude towards Sephiroth ran throughout the ship, but she had to do something.
Suddenly a familiar voice behind Jenova rang out and a burst of green light struck the entity from behind. The Ultima spell, however, did little damage so the person behind Jenova started to attack with her sword, Sephiroth also moved to attack with his sword. Jenova, seeing she had underestimated both Angel and Sephiroth vanished suddenly, leaving Sephiroth looking at his very annoyed sister.
"Blast, Jenova's gone" Angel said looking to see if she could see any trace of where Jenova had vanished.
Sephiroth just looked stunned "Angel how did you. . ." he started to ask.
" Survive?" Angel smiled "It seems that I can fly as well" She concentrated for a second and two white wings appeared. "I don't know why the way I fly is different to yours, but I think it's something to do with the Mako."
"I don't believe this.. I thought Jenova had killed you!" Sephiroth said, shaking his head "I suppose I should've realised that both of us are hard to kill." He looked up to the Highwind "although, now, I'm not sure what I should do."
Angel saw what Sephiroth was looking at "Ah, I see your point, but come with me to the Highwind, we'll explain it to the others and you can help us against Jenova"
"I'm not sure about that, they'll kill me for what I've done to them, and put them through" Sephiroth said bitterly "The planet knows I deserve it"
"Stop being so negative, yes there'll be accusations, when did you turn into a coward?" Angel asked with an innocent look, knowing that was one of the few ways to annoy Sephiroth.
"Alright already, I get your point; I think they want you back up there anyway." Sephiroth said, refusing to rise to the bait.
"Come on I'll explain to them that you are with us, not against us. I think someone else may help win your case as well" Angel said mysteriously.
Sephiroth looked at his sister and smiled "In that case lead on then, sis" he began to hover as Angel began to use her new wings to take off from the ground. It was harder than Sephiroth's way but it served its purpose. "You know, I wonder if Hojo knew that he'd named me well." Angel commented as she headed towards the airship.
Sephiroth shook his head and followed. "I doubt it. Hojo wasn't what you'd call imaginative."
On the deck of the Highwind Cloud watched in disbelief as Sephiroth and Angel headed their way. He drew his sword ready to fight if he had to.
"Cloud, put that sword away!" Aeris told him, exasperated. She knew that Sephiroth had broken free of Jenova's influence. She had sensed the power of Holy when Angel had used it, without realising that she did, and knew exactly what it had done.
Both Sephiroth and Angel landed at the far end of the deck to prevent anyone from doing anything stupid. Angel could see the looks on her friends' faces when they saw Sephiroth and she knew she was going to have a hard time trying to get them to understand.
"Angel, what's going on… how could you bring that murderer here?" Cloud asked furiously.
"Cloud, Jenova's influence is gone. Didn't you see what he did to Jenova?" Angel asked.
"It's alright sis, they don't have to understand. All they should know is that when I catch Jenova, she'll be sorry she ever manipulated me." Sephiroth said turning away "I can do that alone"
"Oh no you don't!" Aeris pushed past Cloud "You owe me, for what Jenova made you do. There's no way you'll be able to stop Jenova yourself"
Sephiroth looked at Aeris and sighed, "You're right. I do owe you. Fine, I'll stay."
"You're kiddin' me? There's no way I'm lettin' that %$^$%^$^ have free run over the Highwind!" Cid exclaimed. At that, the rest of Avalanche started to protest at the idea of Sephiroth in Avalanche, only Red and Vincent stayed silent. Red because he had seen how people could do the right thing when they were given a chance and Vincent, because he'd once been a hired killer for Shin-ra.
"How'd we know he won't go crazy again, or that he's faking believing you Angel?" Cloud asked, suddenly turning on her.
Sephiroth interrupted "Cloud, my sister has never lied to me before. I trust her. Even if had been lying, I would never go back to Jenova."
Cloud looked sceptical "Really?"
"Look, it's getting late" Aeris interrupted the argument. "I suggest we go somewhere where we can talk this over. Cosmo Canyon is only a few minutes away. We can talk round the Cosmo Candle, once everyone's tempers have cooled down!"
The Highwind landed as near to Cosmo Canyon as it could, which still left a short walk for the members of the expanded Avalanche. As they approached the town, some of the elders walked down the steps and were about to refuse entry to Sephiroth and Angel. Once Red had explained what had been going on, the elders let them in, grudgingly.
Later that evening they were sitting around the eternal flame as Angel told them the entire story of what she had found in Hojos' private library and what had resulted. She also told them of what happened when she had woken from her sleep and how she had managed to get Clouds' Chocobo from the farm.
"So what's that gotta do with trusting him?" Yuffie asked, pointing to Sephiroth and glaring at him.
"I don't know what I did, but I broke Jenova's mind influence. That was the main reason why Sephiroth was doing what he did." Angel replied.
"I've no excuse for my actions Yuffie, but I would like it if you didn't keep glaring at me like that" Sephiroth told the girl. "I still can't believe that twisted *%^£"$ is our father, Angel."
Angel smiled "I know, but Vincent here knows more about our true mother. Will you tell us about her Vincent?"
Vincent looked at Angel startled "How'd you know that?"
"Aeris told me you knew her" Angel replied gently.
Vincent nodded and told them of Lucrecia and what she had been like, before she died. He also told them of what Hojo had said to him about the project.
Once all the past stories had been told, Sephiroth looked over at Cloud and Tifa "I should apologise to both of you, almost as much as I should apologise to Aeris. I almost killed both of you in Nibelhiem when Jenova first took over my mind. I know it won't make you trust me, but both of you should know how sorry I am for what I've done."
"I don't suppose I'll ever trust you Sephiroth, but for now, we'll call a truce. Maybe, one day I may become friends, but that'll be a long way off, I still can't forgive you for what you did to all those innocent people" Cloud replied.
Tifa looked at the fire "I may never trust you Sephiroth, but it's time to put the past behind us." She looked at Cloud and Barret. "We did some things that killed innocent people, blowing up the reactors in Midgar, and it was our presence in sector 7 that provoked Shin-ra into dropping the plate. We killed almost as many as Sephiroth did, for all we said it was for the planet"
"But.." Barret almost protested, then saw Tifa's point.
"And it isn't entirely your fault about the plate either. I pressed the button to execute it. Reeve couldn't prevent the destruction by swaying president Shin-ra, and all of the Turks have killed those that Shin-ra wanted out of the way." Reno said, whilst Rude and Elena looked at him startled. The Turks never admitted that they were wrong, but here Reno was, admitting that they were also to blame.
"Enough of this depressing talk" Cid interrupted "I still don't believe Sephiroth is on our side, but if two Cetra are vouching for him, well" he stopped unsure of what to say.
"That brings me to a question Sis, you used a Cetra spell, and now Cid says there's two Cetra here…. What's going on?" Sephiroth asked, the look in his eyes clearly puzzled.
Angel went red and didn't answer.
"When she brought me back using Holy, the planet changed her. She's Cetra now" Aeris grinned, then she turned to Cloud "and the Planet has been telling me something, Cloud. Angel won't know this.. but you three are related."
"WHAT!" Angel, Cloud and Sephiroth exclaimed.
"I know me and Seph are twins.. but where does Cloud come into it?" Angel asked, wondering why the planet hadn't told her.
"It seems Hojo is Cloud's father as well… I don't know why the planet has chosen to tell me, maybe it'll stop all this argument about trust and blame." Aeris replied.
"Trust is for fools, power is all that matters. Nothing will stop me from destroying this planet, not you and not Sephiroth." Jenova appeared beyond the fire, power flowing round her like a robe as she called some of her more powerful spells.
The effect of Jenova's appearance was immediate; everyone grabbed their weapons and magic that they had left next to them and faced Jenova.
"This ends now Jenova!" Vincent went for Jenova, turning into Chaos as his anger became uncontrollable.
Yuffie and Tifa immediately started to cast elemental spells to slow Jenova down, whilst Vincent, Cid, Red and Cloud attacked. Reeve and Barret stayed further away from the melee battle as their guns were long range weapons and took shots whenever they could see an opening.
Sephiroth, noticing that the Turks were trying to sneak round the back of Jenova, cast defensive spells on the more forward fighters before attacking himself. Then Jenova slammed one of her tentacles into Tifa, almost sending her flying if it wasn't for Yuffie catching her. Angel saw this and instead of using her Holy Strike limit she cast healing spells on Tifa. Aeris however knew that she had to do something, Jenova was still standing over the combined barrage of all twelve of her friends, nothing seemed to be affecting her. The Turks weren't causing much damage, even though they had succeeded in surrounding Jenova, and they were in serious danger of a powerful spell going their way.
Aeris acted and called out the name of her newest Limit spell. Everyone heard her voice as Aeris yelled "Heavens Judgement!" Aeris' staff hit Jenova three times. Each time the staff hit, it did more and more damage until the fourth strike which was powered by Holy. This strike made Jenova scream in pain as she couldn't stand up to the power of the Planet.
Jenova could see that the battle was going badly for her and the mortal she had once controlled was now irrevocably turned against her. Furious she called out a powerful spell "Dark destruction"
Balls of black, evil energy appeared and struck the entire group, except for the Turks who were still behind her. As Reno continued to attack, Elena and Rude started to call out healing spells. Angel however had managed to recover slightly and called out her healing limit spell "Great Gospel" which completely healed everyone and put indestructible shields up around all the members of Avalanche, including the Turks.
With the shields in place, they knew that they could beat Jenova, and started to flank her sides, resulting in her being surrounded. Jenova knew that the battle was lost at this point and began to float above the battlefield, out of range of most of the weapons "You pathetic mortals will not stop me again. The next time we meet you'll know that to cross Jenova-Infinity means death!" Jenova told them as she vanished.