From the day we met
You made me forget
All my fears
Knew just what to say
And you kissed away
All my tears
I knew this time I had finally found
Someone to build my life around
Who'd be a lover and a friend
After all my heart had put me through
I knew that it was safe with you
And what we had would never end
Wrong again
~"Wrong Again," Martina McBride
He had never fought Jenova before. He knew that he would tire out long before she did, and that their battle would drain the Planet of much of its energy if she chose to use her most powerful spells. He had no doubt that she would. It did not encourage him that his power came from her cells, and therefore it was bound to be weaker. Gods, Aeris, I hope I have enough Cetra in me... Only his Masamune and whatever part of him was Cetra could compensate.
It would be a difficult battle.
Sephiroth was fast, but Jenova was nearly as fast; the Masamune missed by a hair, and Jenova's tentacle by a hand. He swiftly altered the blade's direction, aiming again for the blue-veined flesh. Three more of her nameless appendages shot toward him, and he leapt back, clipping just one of them. A blast of pain assaulted his mind, and he stumbled, nearly falling as the other two tentacles slammed into him.
His right hand went to his head while his left clutched the Masamune as though it were his lifeline. Jenova was trying to seal off his magic, he realized. As he did not know how to use whatever Cetra magic he had, it would render him nearly helpless with only his blade to aid him. And even Masamune would not respond to him; letting go for an instant might mean losing that, too. Sephiroth struggled to avoid the tentacles' whips even as he fought against the heavy barrier being forced onto his mind. It was like trying to forge a blade from nothing to cut through an impenetrable shield.
As the spell pressed closer, revulsion and defiance welled up in him. He could not let her! To be crippled now, before he had so much as wounded her... No, no, no, no... Not again, no more of her control, her oppression, her mockery. Through sheer force of will, he shattered her attack, slashed through the tentacles that berated him, and sent a powerful bolt spell crashing down on her. She threw up a barrier spell in time, but withdrew her severed limbs.
Sephiroth straightened, quickly caught his breath, and cast another spell at her, this one a powerful shard of raw energy that pierced her shield as if it were paper and struck her to the ground. She retaliated even before she recovered, striking at him with a spell of twice its power. Sephiroth, however, managed to tear it apart rather than shield himself from it. He charged for her with the Masamune, its blade edged in flame.
Wanted to make the battle easier for yourself, did you? he asked as he sliced through a tentacle to get closer to her actual body. Disable my magic and render me no more powerful than Aeris?
Nonsense, she replied, using another limb which surely had not been there a moment ago to knock him sideways. If I had not thought you could have deflected it, I would not have tried.
He stumbled, then rolled out of the way of a group of tentacles and launched himself for her, giving her a glancing blow to her shoulder. Why bother wasting your energy with that?
You forget; it's the Planet's energy I'm wasting. Besides, can you even remember the last time you had such a challenge as this battle? It must be exhilarating.
Sephiroth scoffed, sliced through another of her expendable limbs, and leapt up to avoid another attack. I don't care what this battle is like as long as you end up dying.
One tentacle managed to wrap itself tightly about his leg and pull him closer to her. And you? You don't care if you die with me?
He glared at her as he broke free, giving her a long wound up her side with the next sweep of his Masamune. I told Aeris I would return, and I mean to keep that promise if I can.
How faithful of you. One of her hands shot out and raked across his left shoulder before he could draw back. He inspected the wound with his mind, finding the gashes fairly superficial... Only a little deeper and they would have damaged muscle, but as it was he could ignore them.
Sephiroth, reflecting now on how much easier the Masamune had cut her with the flame edge, called on his most powerful of fire spells and let it envelope the both of them. He was rewarded with a sharp screech in his mind and the barely perceptible pain that had come as the only setback to walking through flame. He drew the spell out for as long as he could, but was forced to let the flames die and drop back to using less powerful spells until he recovered from the casting. For humans, it was like running several miles without being used to it and then having to catch one's breath before being able to run again.
Jenova had dropped to a crouch, her skin seared and many of her tentacles burned off so that only her humanoid form remained with a few odd appendages and of course the plated wings folded awkwardly behind her.
Don't like fire much, do you? he asked with a smirk.
She got to her feet and cast him a sharp pink glare. Let's see what you're weak against, hmm? Lightning crackled around him, and he lacked the power to put up a strong enough shield. He remained standing, leaning on the Masamune, until the bolts of energy subsided.
That is Minerva's weakness, not mine, he told her, straightening.
Annoyed, she flung a barrage of ice spears towards him, all of which failed to hit. Her tentacles shot after him an instant later, and these were harder to avoid. Inevitably, one hit, and then another, and they were twining about him. Sephiroth let the Masamune disappear as he fell, then threw up a shield as she attacked him with the strong shards of non-elemental magic she had used earlier. He felt another form of pain coursing down her tentacles and into his body.
The shield wavered, then finally broke, and pain swept through him. He kept tight control of his body to keep from writhing or crying out; he knew that would only delight her. He could only wait, wrapped in her tentacles, fighting the pain. Amidst the agony, he tried to concentrate on weaving a spell.
When the onslaught abated, he again called the flames up around him. The fire consumed Jenova's tentacles, freeing him, and spread to her body, though she soon dispelled them.
He rolled out of her range, leaping to his feet and grasping the Masamune as it appeared in his hand. Sephiroth found himself breathing hard, and already he felt drained. The pain lingered in his body, screaming sharp protest when he moved. He knew he was in much worse shape than he appeared, but he ignored his wounds and stood ready.
You may have a good defense and control of the elements, Jenova said, but you're already tired, and I'm hardly dead.
No matter. I can hold out far longer than you think. And I've already given you a few good injuries. It is only a matter of time.
She lashed her newly-grown tentacles. Time is on my side. The longer we fight, the weaker you become. Let us see how well you hold up now...
Pain, searing pain, bloomed in his mind. He staggered from the weight of it, leaned heavily on the Masamune. Again, he felt the shield pressing down on him. No! He had to have the use of his spells. No. He could not fail here and now. No... If there was anything that could earn him forgiveness, it was winning this battle. Pain... I promised her, I promised Aeris that I would return. They are all counting on me...
Clenching his teeth, he straightened, forcing the mindblock away. Jenova stood close to him now, her tentacles twisted behind him. As soon as he shattered the spell, she struck out with the whip-like limbs, but there was nothing for them to strike; Sephiroth appeared in the air behind and above her and brought the Masamune downward, opening a gash along her spine.
She whirled, swiping him aside with her serpentine tail. He managed to land on his feet, skidding a little across the frozen ground, then quickly rolled aside to avoid a shower of ice spears. You enjoy keeping me on my toes, don't you?
You realize, of course, you could move more quickly if you let yourself transform a little...
Transform? he wondered. He had not thought that controllable. But it did not matter; he refused to use a form given to him by Jenova.
Fine, fine, have it your way. Keep your pitiful human form, she said, launching another set of tentacles toward him.
He felt one of her lesser spells, aqualung, bubble and pulse around him. It was not one he could have deflected, but still it caused him not even the slightest pain. Strange; he had not thought himself impervious to water-based spells. Leviathan, he remembered a second later. Thank you, Yuffie.
A blast of non-elemental energy hit him, and he grimaced. Unfortunately, those kinds of spells hit hard. He struck back at Jenova with a maelstrom of fire and raw power, then charged for her with his Masamune as she struggled back to her feet...
Aeris drew the gold chocobo up as soon as she caught sight of the battle, feeling more than seeing the powerful spells the two were throwing at each other. She waited for Yuffie to hop off, then quickly dismounted herself. She glanced at the ninja, then at Nanaki, before breaking into a run toward Sephiroth. The Cetra struck Jenova with her strongest bolt spell as she reached the crater's edge.
The alien broke off whatever attack she had been sending to Sephiroth and turned a glare upon her. Meddling Cetra bitch, she hissed. Sephiroth flinched. What was only a low growl in her mind must have been a shout in his.
He turned to her, keeping one eye on Jenova warily. "Aeris, what are you doing here?"
"Keeping my word to you," she replied. She would have offered a smile if she had not noticed how worn he looked. "I told you I'd fight with you."
Enough of this, Jenova spat, and this time Sephiroth grimaced in real pain, plunging the Masamune into the ground and leaning heavily upon it. After an instant, Aeris felt it, too, a searing pain in her mind that grew worse and worse. Then it wavered for a moment, lessened. She saw the look of concentration and mingled agony on Sephiroth's face.
"What's going on?" Yuffie asked.
"Jenova's... trying to hurt us mentally... you remember fighting Minerva. Didn't she do something similar to you?" Aeris winced as something broke and the pain flooded into her mind. She found herself leaning against the ninja. Yes, it was like Minerva's spells, only much, much stronger. Sephiroth seemed to be clinging to the Masamune for dear life. Nanaki was bounding for Jenova now, intent on hurting her to stop the attack, but Yuffie stayed back to support Aeris.
The pain abated abruptly, though its memory lingered in her mind. Jenova gave her two victims but an instant's rest before she unleashed an attack upon all of them. It felt as though huge shards of energy were slicing and stabbing into her. Suddenly she was the one supporting Yuffie, who seemed even more affected by the spell than Aeris.
Jenova moved towards the pair, noticing Yuffie's acute agony. She grasped the girl in her tentacles and yanked her backward with Aeris powerless to do anything through the pain. Crying out for her friend, the Cetra tried to concentrate, but all she could manage was a weak fire spell. It was enough to make Jenova cease the attack, but not to make her let go Yuffie. She thrashed her tentacles about the girl, who swung feebly at them with her Conformer.
Nanaki leapt in, biting and snapping at the offensive appendages and freeing her. She was able to find her feet and keep up with him as he bounded out of Jenova's range. Aeris started to look around for Sephiroth, but he darted up behind the alien then, swinging the Masamune in an upward arc that obviously drew blood, though she could not see how deep the wound was. It was not enough to distract Jenova from shooting a brilliant blue flame after Nanaki and Yuffie as they fled.
The ninja stumbled, but quickly turned and struck back at her with an ice spell. Annoyed or perhaps to mock Yuffie's reliance on materia, Jenova countered this with a strong bolt spell that dropped the girl to her knees. Nanaki turned around to charge Jenova and give her several deep gashes from the blades in his headdress. She repelled him with a barrage of ice spears, a few of which embedded themselves in his flank, making him stumble and tumble head-over-paws and land some feet from Yuffie.
A strong water spell burst up around everyone, coming down worst on Nanaki and Yuffie, whose magic defenses were not nearly as strong as their companions. Sephiroth seemed completely unharmed by it, though being the one battling longest, he was showing signs of fatigue. Aeris wondered how much of his strength was now pretense and how much was still real.
The swordsman flung out a hand, cutting Jenova's spell short as he blasted her with one of his own. The alien stumbled backwards from the force, then sank to her knees, one hand on the ground to support her. Aeris cast a glance to her left where Yuffie was helping Nanaki to pull the spears from his flanks while keeping an eye on their enemy.
She started over to them to heal their wounds when she felt... something... that made her look back at Sephiroth. He was leaning on the Masamune again, and one hand covered his mouth. She pivoted and ran to him, laying a hand on his back and watching him worriedly. He did not seem to notice her; his eyes were shut tightly and he was coughing violently. The Cetra began to concentrate on a healing spell, though it seemed as though his body was one great wound rather than any specific place. He lost his grip on the Masamune and fell to his knees.
"Sephiroth, love, hold on," she pleaded, though she doubted he heard her. She concentrated again and the first warmth of healing had just left her hands when Jenova's energy shards shredded her thoughts and sent her mind whirling amidst pain. She leaned against Sephiroth even as she tried to shield him with her body, though what help that would have been, she did not know. He shifted and enveloped her in his arms, and she felt the pain lessen.
"Don't..." she whispered.
"I'm all right," he forced out. "Don't worry, I'm all right..."
But Aeris could not ignore the trickle of blood at the side of his mouth. The spell subsided, and she formed her own as quickly as she could, letting a phoenix wind whip across the battlefield, flooding it with a healing warmth for all but Jenova who staggered from the burning pain.
She drew back from Sephiroth. "Better?" she asked.
He nodded slightly, then climbed to his feet. Was it her, or did he seem just the slightest bit unsteady? She frowned anxiously, and started to get up also when something wrapped around her ankle and pulled sharply backwards. She fell hard to the frozen earth and felt herself dragged backwards as more tentacles wound their way around her. Sephiroth retrieved his Masamune and darted after her, severing the ensnaring limbs. He grasped her by the arm and pulled her to her feet, just a little too roughly. She stumbled against him, but he gave her a slight push away and charged for Jenova with his blade.
Aeris turned around, stumbling slightly, to watch him dodge and slash at the tentacles to get to his foe. She cried out when one slammed into him from the side, but he turned, severed it, and leapt out of the way of the next that came towards him. Finally one caught his wrist and pulled it harshly downward. The Masamune disappeared and the other tentacles lashed down upon him. Aeris could do nothing.
Yuffie had finally recovered. Being only human meant that the incredible spells fell more heavily on her than the others and took longer to recover from; Nanaki was not much better off. The ninja darted towards Jenova, throwing her shuriken as she ran. Nanaki bounded at her side. The Conformer severed three of the tentacles attacking Sephiroth and tore through one of Jenova's wings as it returned to Yuffie's hand. She was close enough now to strike at the rest of the tentacles, severing most of them and offering a hand up to Sephiroth.
He grasped it only for a moment, disoriented, letting go once she had helped him to where he could find his feet on his own. Nanaki was attacking Jenova with all he had--claws, teeth, the blades in his mane--but could not avoid the strong tentacle that swiped him aside. Hearing the crunch of bone, Aeris ran forward to help him get out of Jenova's range. A quick blast of energy sent Yuffie flying backwards and Sephiroth stumbling half as far.
The swordsman straightened quickly and called out to Aeris. Nanaki gave her a curt nod, and she ran to join Sephiroth.
"Do you think you can figure something out with me?" he asked her. At her brusque nod, he went on. "Jenova is weak against fire; I want to try combining spells."
Aeris's eyes widened. "...combined?" she asked. She took a deep breath. "All right. We'll try it." She grasped his hand and focused her mind on the spell, letting her weaving intertwine with Sephiroth's, which she found surprisingly clear to her. At an unspoken cue, they let loose the fire spell, watching as it enveloped Jenova in a burst of brilliant flame. Aeris was forced to turn away from it's brightness and look instead at Sephiroth.
She blinked in surprise at what she saw; the flamelight played on his face and his body and outlined one feathered wing in light behind his right shoulder and spreading backwards. She blinked a few times, and finding it still there, she simply stared. With the dying of the fire, however, so did the wing fade from view.
"What is it?" Sephiroth asked her, questioning.
"A... a wing..." she murmured, then shook her head at his raised eyebrow. They both looked back at Jenova, only to be greeted with a painful assault on their minds. Aeris felt the agony race through her blood as shards of flame and ice. Her mind was full of knives and hammers and painful heavy things. She found herself clinging again to Sephiroth for support. He could not hold them both up, and they dropped to the ground simultaneously.
Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop... her mind screamed over and over as she shut her eyes tightly. Somewhere in her soul, she felt the Planet scream.
Damned Cetra bitch! she heard through the pain. I will not let you have him! Never! You do not deserve him! He is mine! Weak, am I? Who is helpless and screaming and sobbing? Damn you! Damn you for stealing him from me!
Please, stop, stop, stop... she protested. He belongs to no one but himself... The pain lessened a little, and Aeris forced open her eyes to look at Sephiroth. He lay curled up beside her, coughing violently with one hand pressed tightly to his mouth, trying to hold back the blood that nevertheless seeped past his gloved fingers. His other hand held firmly to hers, and she managed to probe a little and sense the feeble shield that he had placed over her mind. The pain could not reach her directly; it had first to flow through Sephiroth.
"Stop it, you're killing him!" she cried aloud, throwing herself across his body. "Please..." she murmured weakly to him. "Hold on..."
The agony cut off suddenly, and she managed to lift her head to see Ifrit's great flame envelope Jenova. She resisted the temptation to lay against Sephiroth again and drew slowly back from him "Sephiroth," she said urgently. "Are you all right?"
He groaned in response and struggled to get up. He fell back for an instant, then forcefully pushed himself up to a sitting position. He quickly wiped the back of his hand across his face, ridding it of most of the blood, but leaving a few crimson streaks. "Yes," he answered hoarsely.
Aeris swallowed her sobs, but did nothing about the tears on her face. She looked towards Jenova to see her pounce upon Nanaki, slicing at him with clawed hands. She seemed to lack the energy to grow new limbs. Yuffie rushed to her friend's aid, cutting a deep gash in the muscles of one arm. Jenova threw both back with a blast of magic that seemed to keep hitting them even as they lay helpless.
The Cetra got determinedly to her feet, bringing the strongest fire spell she could down upon the alien. Jenova staggered and turned to her, running forward and turning to knock her to the ground with her serpentine tail. She was breathing raggedly as she fell upon Aeris, gouging at her with her one good hand, using her bleeding, near-useless arm to hold herself up.
Sephiroth kicked the alien off of the Cetra, then sent her tumbling back with a blast of magic. He dropped down beside Aeris as she sat up. "One more spell," he whispered, looking at her pointedly.
Nodding, she took his hand. She could not see his spell as clearly this time. It was visible to her only as a vague impression, and she carefully wove her threads of fire around it, strengthening this foreign material. One of Jenova's spells cut down sharply onto the pair, but they stubbornly refused to give in to the pain and let it shred their spell. Finally it was ready, and it burst from them and upon their foe with a force born of flame and fury and determination.
Jenova's attack wavered, then came down more heavily. After an unbearable moment of this, it faltered and began to die. Aeris sensed Sephiroth's part of their spell begin to weaken, and he slumped against her. Finally, Jenova's spell died out, and a moment later, so did Sephiroth's, leaving only the tail end of Aeris's flame to carry out its instructions. The Planet's screaming died down, and then it, too, fell silent.
Jenova lay motionless in a steaming heap of blue and violet flesh.
Aeris paid it no more attention and turned to the man in her arms. "Sephiroth. Oh, Gods, Sephiroth..." She moved one hand to caress his face. Alive. Barely. His eyes fluttered open and focused on her.
"Aeris?" he queried, almost as if he did not believe she was still there.
"Yes, it's me. I'm here with you."
"...I tried to shield you, love..." he said regretfully.
"I know, I know... and I'm all right, but you..."
He interrupted her. "Why did you come?"
"I... I was so worried about you, and now..." She bit her lip. "Oh, please, you can't die..."
He closed his eyes and spoke quite calmly, if carefully. "It does seem as though I am going to. Doesn't it? I am sorry that I lied to you. I don't think I will be coming back."
"I'll heal you," Aeris said. "You'll recover..."
"Don't waste your energy on me."
"Why not? What else do I need it for?"
Sephiroth opened his eyes briefly, then closed them again. "You were right... about Jenova. She was afraid of dying. But this time... she was willing to go, as long as she could take me with her."
"But you don't have to go..." the Cetra insisted.
"I think, if I stay, she may find some reason to return before the Planet can decide what to do with her..."
"Then I'll bring you back once we're certain Jenova is dead."
"What for? Certainly the world is better off without me. They will probably rejoice more knowing I am dead than knowing she is gone."
"I don't care what they think," Aeris declared. "I want you back." She closed her eyes and concentrated on healing his wounds. Gods, there were so many of them, so many that were near impossible to even comprehend, much less heal... Any normal man would have died ten times over at least.
Stop, child.
She started, opening her eyes. "Planet?"
Let him go.
"But why? Is he right?"
Sephiroth opened his eyes, watching her in mild confusion, but said nothing.
Don't know, but you are not the one to decide if he should live or die.
"Then who is?"
His victims.
"But I'm one of them. And I say he lives!"
Are others who do not agree, and all must be heard. The Planet's half-formed thoughts surprised her, but she realized that it must have been busy dealing with Jenova. Even so, she pressed on urgently.
"Please... hasn't he redeemed himself?"
Is to be decided.
"And if they decide in his favor, you'll bring him back to me?"
Yes.
"When?"
Don't know.
"Please..." she whispered.
Will tell you when conclusion reached. Until then, no soul that has suffered by his hand and died shall be taken from me. Understand?
"Yes..." She sighed as the Planet's awareness left her and looked down at Sephiroth, blinking away the tears.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"The Planet is taking you to be judged," she told him. "It does not know if or when you are coming back."
"Who is judging me?"
"Your victims..." Aeris bit her lip. "I wish I could be there to defend you..."
"What will happen will happen I suppose..." He lifted one gloved hand up to her, and she noticed a red materia orb in his palm. "Tell Yuffie 'thank you,'" he said.
She clasped his hand firmly, noticing the blood covering it. "I will."
Sephiroth grasped weakly at her hand. "...now they are truly bloody, aren't they?" he asked.
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter."
"To you."
She only held his hand closer to her heart. "I will be waiting for you..."
"Don't wait," he told her. "I don't want you... wasting your life just for me."
"But I want to spend it with you, not anyone else."
He started to sigh, but winced and inhaled sharply. "What... do you want me for?" he asked. "Surely there are other men... who are more worthy of you... and it would not be hard to find one capable of loving you..."
"But I don't love any other men."
"What do you mean?"
"I need you, not Cloud, not Reno, not anyone else."
Sephiroth stared at her silently for a moment. She could not read his gaze. "...what if... I don't come back...?"
She shook her head. "I don't want to consider it. I won't consider it. You're coming back to me, just like you promised."
"But for now... the Planet wants me... Goodbye, Aeris. I will come back to you... if I can."
"Goodbye, Sephiroth..." she whispered, bending down close to his face. "I love you..."
But his eyes were sightless and already it seemed the warmth was going from his hand. She gently laid his hand down across his chest, closing her fingers about the materia, and lightly closed his eyes. She sat silently, staring at his lifeless body for a long moment, biting her lip and trying to hold back the sob in her throat. Finally, she blinked and shook her head, clumsily dragging herself to her feet.
Aeris looked around, spotted Nanaki and Yuffie and tried to walk over to them, but her feet refused to move. Everything looked blurry, and she blinked several times to clear her vision. "Mother, help me..." she mouthed.
Don't worry, Aeris. Ifalna's voice came faintly, but gently. A soothing whisper. Everything will turn out all right. Be strong.
"I want to see him again, I need to see him again, I have to see him again..."
You will. Don't worry.
"But what if they... what if they decide against him?"
They won't. They couldn't possibly...
"But they might..."
I'll defend him for you.
She closed her eyes and bowed her head. "Thank you, Mother."
Ifalna sent the impression of a smile. Think nothing of it. You know I'd do anything for you. Well... it looks like I have work to do. Go help your friends.
Aeris nodded and drew herself up with a deep breath. She opened her eyes and strode towards her companions, ignoring the tears staining her cheeks. Yuffie was lying on the ground, and Nanaki was hunched near her, nuzzling her gently. He looked up at the Cetra as she approached, golden eye questioning.
"He... he's dead," she said, failing to maintain any semblance of calm when uttering those few words. Nanaki regarded her with a deep empathy. She shook her head and knelt down beside the girl. "Is she all right?"
Yuffie opened her eyes ever-so-slightly. "Hey, Aeris," she forced out. "I'm alive. Just... would appreciate... a little help."
"I do not have any Cure materia..." Nanaki told her mournfully.
The Cetra laid one hand lightly on Yuffie's cheek and took several moments to heal the worst of her wounds. The ninja struggled to a sitting position as Aeris pulled her fingers away. She blinked, noticing the bloody handprint she had left. "Sorry," she murmured, showing Yuffie her red-stained palm.
"That's okay."
She turned to Nanaki. "Here, let me heal you, too. You took a pretty harsh beating, too." Her magic knitted his flesh back together and she sat back. "Thanks, you guys... If you hadn't come with me..."
Nanaki nuzzled her shoulder. "I am sorry, Aeris..."
"It's not your fault. The Planet is going to let his victims judge him. If... if they decide as much, he'll come back to me."
"I hope he killed some very understanding people," Yuffie said. "Otherwise..." She trailed off at Aeris's frown.
"Let's... let's just go back to Cosmo Canyon and let the others know that we... at least... are all right, and that the battle is won." The weary Cetra got to her feet and looked towards Sephiroth's body. "...Yuffie, can you fetch the chocobo and help me get him onto it?"
"Sure thing, Aeris," the ninja replied, quickly hopping to her feet and jogging off to find the bird despite her fatigue.
Aeris walked slowly back to Sephiroth's body and knelt beside it. She smoothed his hair with the backs of her fingers. A faded expression of pain was written in his features, but there was no trace of life, no vibrancy, no smile, no blue eyes with their faint shimmer. She bit her lip and fought back another wave of tears. She felt a strong hand on her shoulder and looked up.
"Are you okay?" Yuffie asked anxiously.
The Cetra nodded. "I'll be all right..." She started to get up, and the ninja moved to help her lift Sephiroth's body onto the chocobo. Gods, the man was heavy... Aeris wasn't sure how they managed it. Things were beginning to seem hazy around the edges, like she was dreaming this and had no control over her actions.
She wished it was a dream. But she knew it wasn't.
Yuffie turned to her once they had finally heaved the body up onto the thankfully-patient and tolerant chocobo. "So... are you going to ride back and then send the chocobo back for me, or...?"
Aeris could only shake her head. "I don't know..."
"I mean, I'm okay with staying behind."
Nanaki bumped his head against her leg. "I would wait with you, but..."
"I know, Red. You need Aeris's magic to get you across the ocean. Don't worry about it; I can take care of myself."
He nodded, turned to the Cetra. "Shall we go?"
She paused, turned to Yuffie, and handed her the materia. "Sephiroth said thank you..." She swallowed down another sob.
The ninja nodded, taking the orb and clasping it tightly. "Tell him 'you're welcome' when you get the chance."
Aeris sighed, managed a wavering smile, and climbed up behind Sephiroth on the chocobo. "Let's go. We'll see you later, Yuffie."
"See you."
She spurred the chocobo forward and they were running south, Nanaki bounding along beside the golden-feathered bird.
She wished that the Planet had let her heal him. She wished that she had been with him from the start of the battle. She wished, selfish desire that it was, that she had died in his stead. Most of all, she simply wished to hear his voice telling her that everything was all right.
"What is it?"
She caught Reno's arm to steady herself. "He... they are both dead."
He blinked and turned to look at her. "Jenova and Sephiroth both...?"
Minerva nodded. "Killed each other."
"Did Aeris not make it in time?"
"No, she did..." Grief finally began to slip into her voice. "I suppose... she could not heal him. Or perhaps she did not have enough energy to heal him. Or the Planet stopped her..." She faltered, fell silent.
Reno embraced her gently. "Hey, it'll be okay... The guy's died twice before, hasn't he? Death doesn't exactly seem final for him."
"But how many lives does he have? Perhaps if he dies a certain way, there can be no recovery. Perhaps the Planet will not let him return... Perhaps..." Her voice dropped to a murmur. "Perhaps I have lost my brother just when I finally found him..."
"Let's wait and see what Aeris says when she comes back before you work yourself into despair, all right? ...she is okay, isn't she?"
Minerva shook her head. "I cannot be certain... Sephiroth called for her some time before he died."
"How do you know?"
"A mental cry," she amended. "'Help me, love.'"
Reno was silent for a moment, still holding the girl in his arms. She made no movement of protest; the physical comfort seemed to help. "...it's hard to imagine Sephiroth crying out for help."
"He must have been in a lot of pain..."
"...at least he had Aeris with him." She could sense that he lacked the words to truly ameliorate her grief. It did not matter.
"Yes. At least he had Aeris..." Minerva paused. "I hope she is strong enough to live through this without breaking..."
"She's strong," Reno assured her.
She drew back from him. She had had her moment of weakness. She would not allow herself any longer. "I suppose we should tell the others..." She sighed. "If Cloud looks even the slightest bit pleased, I will rip his head off."
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Vicious today, aren't we?"
The girl shot him a half-hearted glare. "My brother just died. How am I supposed to be feeling?"
"Depressed and snappish," he replied. "Sure."
Minerva studied him for a moment, then shook her head and turned away, walking towards the Candle where most of the group was gathered. She ignored all of them save Lucrecia and sat down beside the woman. Everyone fell silent, some people watching her anxiously, others merely favoring her with a glance. They all knew that if there was news of the battle, she would be the messenger.
She spoke softly, her voice obviously meant for Lucrecia alone, but still audible to the others. "Whatever good news I have will mean nothing to you, I know... The battle is over, and Sephiroth... Sephiroth is dead. But so is Jenova."
Lucrecia stared at her for a moment. "What... what did you say?"
Minerva spoke more firmly. "Sephiroth and Jenova are dead."
Tears flickered in her blue-green eyes, but she only nodded. "I see..."
"Are Aeris, Nanaki, and Yuffie all right?" Tifa asked anxiously.
The girl got to her feet. "I cannot say for certain. I think Aeris at least is alive."
The brunette sat back with a frown. Cloud glanced at her, then put an arm around her. She smiled at him briefly, gratefully.
Minerva glanced around at those gathered to see their reactions to the news. Lucrecia was crying silently now, and Vincent was doing his best to comfort her. Elena's expression was somewhere between pity and sorrow. Rude's was merely pensive as it often was. Reeve met Minerva's morose gaze with compassion. She looked away from it.
Katrina was hugging herself, staring listlessly at the ground, and rocking back and forth as a tear made its soft track down her face. Was that how a normal girl would have reacted? Should Minerva have been crying, too? She probably could if she let herself, but what good would that do?
She shook her head slightly, looked on to Cid. The pilot was leaning back, an unlit cigarette in his mouth, his expression a thoughtful frown. Miera was curled up in a ball, eyes half-open and staring into the flames.
Cloud looked no more pleased with the news than his companions. His face showed none of the complacency that she had half-expected from him. Of course, the lives of three people he did care about were still in question. So when they returned safe and sound--as Minerva found herself assuming they would--perhaps then he would smile. Perhaps then a lot of them would be pleased. Their friends made it back, the enemy was killed, so who cared if they lost Sephiroth along the way?
Her heart full of bitterness, she turned away, walking past where Reno was waiting for her and sitting down in the corner beneath the stairs. The redhead sat down near her, watching her anxiously.
"Do not worry about me," she told him. "I have enough strength in me, and lack of compassion, to get over it."
"Well, I'll agree with part of that," Reno said, "but you're no more cold than Sephiroth was."
She scoffed. "You barely knew him."
"But I know you."
Minerva looked away. "Please, I do not wish to talk about myself right now."
"Just admit that you're compassionate, and I'll leave you alone."
"But... how can I be? I have attacked my allies and friends, nearly killed them..."
"Min, do you think I'm nice?"
She glanced back at him. "Yes, of course."
"Do you know how many people I've killed for no reason whatsoever?"
"No..."
"A lot," he replied. "Not nearly as many as Sephiroth, maybe, but still a lot."
The girl nodded. "You are saying that one does not have to be without empathy to kill... Fine. You are right. But that does not prove your point."
"Well, it negated yours, and that's a start anyway... But if you want me to shut up, we can talk about it later or something."
"Thank you." She leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes. "...life outside really is strange. It is barely mid-afternoon, and already today I have watched my brother kill someone innocent, accepted your proposal, and felt the simultaneous deaths of one I hated terribly and one who I loved dearly. So different from the lab's monotony..."
"At least it can only get better from here, right?" Reno reasoned.
"Mm. I suppose." Minerva fell silent and wondered what 'better' would be. Aeris could revive Sephiroth--or perhaps Minerva herself could do it. Perhaps she had only refrained from doing so because the battle had drained her of sufficient energy. Yes, 'better' would mean that Sephiroth would live again, that Aeris would be able to spend her life with him, that she and Reno would get married and he would teach her how to live, that no one else would have to die save from old age...
But that was wishful thinking. There was a good chance that Sephiroth would remain dead--that was the natural way of things, wasn't it?--and Aeris would break. And of course there would be murderers and criminals, accidents and disease. So perhaps she would never kill, but others would. And Reno? She was certain that he, at least, would stay with her. Or rather, that she would stay with him until he told her to go, if he ever did.
Minerva stole a glance at him. The redhead was sitting quietly against the wall with his legs half-stretched out and his arms folded. His gaze was wandering, now looking out at the canyon, now gazing up at the sky, now glancing over at her. She started a little and looked away again.
What would Sephiroth think, she wondered, if he knew she was going to marry Reno? Would he smile and congratulate her? He had told her to stop pushing him away... He would probably be surprised, though, to find that she had gone so far as that. Perhaps even a little hurt because he would not think Aeris would accept if he asked her such a thing.
But what would happen to Aeris now that she had lost Sephiroth? Was she strong enough to move on, or would his death be the end of her, too? And had she told him she loved him before he died, or was she too late, as she had been with Cloud? There would be even deeper a pain for her than for Minerva, no matter what the case. Minerva, at least, had Reno and his friends. Who did Aeris have, if not Sephiroth? Where would she go?
"Reno?" she queried.
"Hmm?"
"Do you think perhaps we should offer to stay with Aeris, or at least let her come with us, if Sephiroth is indeed to remain dead?"
He paused, apparently figuring out what line of thought her question had come from. "Yeah," he agreed. "She'll need someone to help her out."
"I hope Sephiroth can return and we do not have to, though..."
"Me, too. I wanted to get to know the guy..."
"...and I wanted to see him finally find contentment."
The chocobo came running back sooner than Yuffie had expected. She caught up the bird's reigns as it slowed to a stop near her, bobbing its head in greeting. She reached back to stroke its neck feathers and it cooed agreeably.
"You're lucky, you know that?" she said to the chocobo. "You probably have no idea what's going on."
The bird warked and tossed its head.
"Oh, so you do? Well, you might have guessed from carrying a dead body on your back... But you don't know any more than that. You didn't even know him unless he was your rider a few times."
The chocobo regarded her with wide, innocent, oblivious blue eyes.
"Nope, you don't have to worry about falling in love or losing a friend or watching the same happen to someone else. But then, you don't really have friends either, or lead an interesting life. You're just a chocobo."
It warked indignantly.
Yuffie laughed, the sound seeming empty to her own ears. A cold wind picked up, whipping at her hair and clothing and making her shiver violently. The wind was flecked with snow that stung her skin. She glanced up at the sky to find it covered in thick grey clouds. The flurry was probably only the first of the snow that would soon come down and sweep through on the wind in great torrents.
She shivered again and hurriedly climbed up onto the chocobo. "Let's go. There's no sense in staying here and freezing to death."
The bird warked in agreement and turned to run southward over the snow and the mountains and the icy ocean. The air began to feel warmer and warmer until the bird slowed down upon reaching Costa del Sol. Aeris and Nanaki were waiting just outside the town, Sephiroth's body laying on the ground near them. Aeris looked incredibly morose, her mouth set in a slight frown and her eyes downcast.
Now more than ever, Yuffie thought, she needs people around her to be strong. She definitely doesn't need to be babysitting anyone. "I thought you guys were going to go all the way to Cosmo Canyon," she said as she dismounted.
Aeris looked up as though just noticing her. "No, we thought we'd meet up again here and continue on together..."
"On foot?" the ninja asked skeptically.
"No, of course not," the Cetra said, taking the chocobo from her and absently stroking its face. She turned then and knelt down by Sephiroth's body. Yuffie moved to help her, but blinked as Aeris simply lifted him with her magic, keeping on hand on his arm the whole time, and laid him across the chocobo's back. She then climbed up behind him. She looked tired, as though she had not slept in weeks.
Yuffie hesitated. "I can't run half as fast as a chocobo..." she said uncertainly.
Nanaki gestured her over with a toss of his head. "Get on my back then; I think I can carry you."
"Really?" she asked, not wanting to burden him when he had to be tired, too.
"Yes. You are small for a human."
She put her hands on her hips. "Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?"
He snorted. "It is a statement of fact. Now get on."
Hesitantly, Yuffie walked over to him and climbed onto his back, hugging his sides with her knees and leaning across to grasp his mane. She suddenly felt very exposed and insecure. She would probably fall off, she decided.
"Are you two ready?" Aeris asked.
"Yes," Nanaki replied.
"Yeah," Yuffie said. She saw the chocobo start forward ahead of them, then Nanaki followed it at a run and she let out a short yelp, clinging more tightly. Once she regained her senses, she loosened her grip on his mane, embarrassed at the thought that she might be hurting him by pulling his fur out. After a while, she sort of got used to his loping gate and was able to relax a little. She hoped carrying her wasn't too tiring for him. For once she felt grateful for her short stature and skinny body; the smaller the burden she was to Nanaki, the better.
He slowed as the approached the canyon and let her hop off.
"Thanks," she said, walking along side him now. Aeris got down off of her chocobo and strode mutely beside it.
"It was no trouble at all," Nanaki told her lightly, though he definitely seemed more tired than before.
Yuffie decided not to comment and looked up the stairs to the gate of his village, painfully empty of a gatekeeper. Well, here we go, she thought, not knowing quite what to expect from her friends.
"There they are," Vincent stated quietly.
Tifa looked up. No cheers announcing their friends' arrival, no cries of 'welcome back,' no smiles, no excitement. Simply that flat, empty statement. 'There they are.'
Cloud got to his feet, and she followed suit, as did most of the others. Lucrecia remained seated, and Vincent with her. Rude only shifted to look back towards the gate. They all remained motionless, poised anxiously, watching as Yuffie came up first, Nanaki at her heels, and finally, reluctantly, Aeris. The Cetra was barely managing to keep her head up, it seemed. Her face reminded Tifa of those of veterans who had lost their comrades in battle.
Shaking her head, she turned down the steps and went to greet them. "Aeris, Yuffie, Nanaki... welcome back," she said.
"Hey, Tifa," Yuffie replied wearily. The other two were silent, merely looking at her. Cloud, Katrina, and Cid had joined them at the entrance. Miera walked up to Nanaki and the two touched noses in greeting.
"I'm glad you're all okay," Tifa went on. "When we heard about Sephiroth, I..."
"You heard?" Aeris asked faintly.
Tifa nodded. "Minerva told us... Aeris... I'm so sorry..."
The Cetra smiled sadly. "There's nothing you could have done, so don't apologize." She paused, looking past her. "You, too, Cloud. I know what you're about to say."
No one spoke. Minerva and Reno joined them, just as mute.
Aeris looked at each of them in turn. Tifa found she could not hold her friend's gaze and looked down at Nanaki and Miera. "In any case, the Planet has claimed him for now... Everyone he's killed, everyone who has suffered because of him, and I hope those that he helped--they're going to judge him. And if they decide as much, the Planet will let him return. So I can't loose faith yet."
"He may come back, you say?" Minerva asked hopefully. For once she sounded as young, perhaps even younger, than she was.
"That's what the Planet said... But I don't know any more than that. It's busy now, trying to accept Jenova's soul."
"Accept it?" Cloud asked, sounding appalled at the idea.
The Cetra only nodded calmly. "That's the only way she can die for certain. If her soul enters the Lifestream. Otherwise, she will continue on as she has, immortal."
"Where is Sephiroth's soul?" Nanaki asked softly.
She shook her head, and her voice faltered. "I... I don't know."
Tifa laid a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, Aeris. You look like you could fall asleep any minute. You can tell us about the battle later, or Nanaki or Yuffie can do it for you."
Aeris nodded gratefully. "Right..."
The brunette led her past all the concerned gazes of their friends, past the brightly-burning Candle, and into the inn. She led her past the questioning gaze of the innkeeper, down the hallway, and into one of the rooms.
The Cetra sat down on one bed and stared unseeing at the far wall. "Thanks, Tifa," she said. "One more minute of watching their faces and... I know you all pity me, for losing him, even though you half of you don't like him much."
Tifa stood awkwardly near her. "Aeris..."
"You were right, you know."
She blinked.
Aeris's gaze focused on her. "You know, when you said it seemed like we were more than friends. I should have known it. But, Tifa, I was afraid of falling in love and then losing him, like Cloud lost me. And now... I don't think he heard me when I told him..."
"I'm sure he did," Tifa assured her. "And if he didn't, then someone will tell him, won't they?"
She nodded slowly. "Yes, someone will tell him. I wonder... if the Planet took him to the Promised Land... I wonder if he's watching me now..."
"Why would he be taken to the Promised Land?" she asked in confusion.
"Oh, he does have some Cetra blood in him. Not enough to hear the Planet, perhaps, but maybe enough to lead him there. I think the Planet has forgiven him, so maybe..."
A thought occurred to her. "And maybe... You're mother, Ifalna--she talked to you from the Promised Land, didn't she? Maybe Sephiroth can talk to you, too."
Aeris's face brightened. "You think so...? He probably just hasn't realized it yet... perhaps he hasn't even woken up yet..."
Tifa smiled gently. She sat down beside her friend for a moment. "You look like you took a beating, too... Do you need--"
"No, that's all right," she interrupted. "I don't think materia could heal these wounds anyway... I'll take care of them when I'm rested."
"All right," the brunette consented, though she would rather have tried anyway. She got to her feet again. "Aeris... I hope they can all find it in their hearts to forgive him. So he comes back."
Aeris smiled. "Thank you, Tifa. But I know he'll come back. He promised me he would."
Tifa nodded, admiring the faith her friend had in Sephiroth. Of course, without it, there was a good chance she would not be able to get through this. "I'll leave you be so you can sleep," she said, leaving the room and closing the door gently behind her.
She found herself wishing she could do something to help Sephiroth. She had suffered by his hand, too, hadn't she? So why couldn't she be among those who decided his fate? Aeris needed him to live again. Tifa was surprised to find herself thinking of that night when they had been dancing together, of how happy Aeris had looked, how happy Sephiroth had looked. The two of them belonged together, and she felt deeply ashamed that she had ever thought or said otherwise.
She wondered if Cloud felt the same. He should, she thought. Maybe I should talk to him about this. After Aeris's story, I think he'd understand... Tifa cast a glance back towards the room as she headed down the hall. Aeris... tell the Planet we want to help, too.
Author's Notes: Gah. Accursed battle scene. Hopefully it's halfway decent. But at least I think the rest of the story should flow smoothly from here. Wow... the final stretch. O.O Kinda scary.