Hi!  This fic was originally done by Anaraven, who generously gave it to me when she wasn't going to continue it!  Chapters 1 and 2 were done by her, but I will be doing from chapter 3, onward.  Enjoy!!

Chapter 1.

Aerith Gainsborough; sweet, innocent, smart, and pure. However, that wasn't the case at this point in time. She'd run from her friends to try to be the heroine of the story, to take on the powerful Sephiroth by herself. Emotions swelled deep within, but she suppressed them with hope. That was all she actually had, hope. She carried no weapons, and she was too exhausted from the long journey to cast magic spells.

The City of the Ancients was no more than a mile away when she stumbled, and fell to the rocky ground. Out of breathe and weary from travel, Aerith could not bring herself to stand up. Just kneeling there, feeling Sephiroth's presence near by, frightened her to the point of almost turning back.

"I can't...do this. What was...I thinking?" Aerith pushed the words from her chilled lips. The sound of her voice comforted her a little, and gave her the strength to stand. But with her head bowed, focusing on the ground as she stood, she failed to see him appear. "I should have...never come here...alone." Those were the last words she spoke before lifting her gaze, and screaming in sheer terror.

"I don't know if I should be insulted or flattered that you feel you can't stand up against me." Sephiroth's deep voice sent chills through Aerith's entire body. She wanted to turn and run as fast as she could but she knew the truth. If she made one false move now her struggles to get this far may have been all been done in vein.

"I must say you are a brave little thing. Brave and stupid that is. You saved me the trouble of looking for you. Now I can allow your friends to come and witness your death without ever leaving this area. How thoughtful of you." Sephiroth laughed for a moment before fixating his gaze on Aerith's face. The look of fear there, upon her pure features, was enough to drive him insane. He loved the affect he had on people.

Aerith finally mustered up the courage to talk back to the being in front of her. "I swear by my ancestors, Sephiroth, I'll kill you!!" What started as a weak sentence turned into an all out scream, only causing Sephiroth to laugh harder.

"Please! Stop! I'll die of laughter!" He took a moment to annoy her further by continuing to laugh before he settles down, leaving his cocky grin upon his lips. "You look a little cold. I'm sure your journey in the north was quite hard so I can assume you wish to rest?" It seemed he was acting nice... "Although, it won't really matter. When your friends arrive you'll die anyway."

"Enough!" Aerith screamed. Without warning, or second thought, she charged the taller man slamming right into his chest. Sephiroth placed on foot back a little for support as the young girl pounded, with her fists clenched, against his slightly exposed chest. "You stupid bastard! When they get here they'll kick your ass!"

Sephiroth remained quiet a moment, taking the weak beating. He thought it might go on for hours, knowing how much strength this girl had but he was wrong. The journey she made took more out of her than he thought. Within minutes her fists became lose, and her hits even weaker. Finally she turned angrily away, throwing her arms to the side. "Just do it now! Why wait? Come on! Free shot! I was stupid enough to come alone I deserve to die for such a horrid mistake!"

Sephiroth raised a brow; he was literally shocked by her actions.

Aerith waited for that final blow that would end her life but it never came. Instead she felt a strong arm brush over her right shoulder and another under her left arm. Hands, rough with calices, clasped together in the center of her chest. Before she could react everything around her faded to a bright white light. She sank back into Sephiroth's arms as she tried to shield her eyes from the light but it was no use. The grip around her tightened as the ground beneath her seemed to disappear.

Aerith struggled to be let go, but the more she struggled the tighter he gripped her. Finally, with her right arm bent, she swung her elbow directly towards Sephiroth's midsection. Obviously he hadn't expected it because she heard him grunt. Her glory of causing him pain lasted only a moment. Sephiroth drew back his arms letting her fall into that ever-blinding light.

TO BE CONTINUED!!!!