Return of the Sinned; Final Part

Time had passed and ended, a river flowing into the sea. Life was the current and death just a step along the way. It was the life which began this story. It would be death that ended it.

She was quite nervous about going back. So much had happened in the time she had last seen him that it made actually seeing him difficult. Her stomach had become a growing bulge, a womb for a new race. She carried the child well. And Aerith felt like a mother. Riding in the car, she hummed a light tune to herself, knitting a small shirt for her expected joy. Though Kalm was just around the bend, she wished the ride was over, for the bumps did weigh heavily on her back. Few thoughts rested upon the father of her child, but of the one who could have been.

Sephiroth was standing on the rear deck of the car, looking behind as the wind tousled his mane of hair about objectively. Masamune was kept at hand, much to the surprise of his young mate. At first she was worried, but then brushed it off as merely caution when facing the one who had hated him so dearly. If one thing could remain certain about the angel, it was that his thoughts were obscure. Even now he stared at their trail, the winding marks of the wheels through the grass and dirt. The past.

When the car pulled up, a group was waiting. Barret was standing beside a girl who now came to his waist. A mechanical right hand rested in her head and a he seemed far less wound up than before. In the land behind the town, the Highwind was grounded. New metal reflected the sun defiantly and new engines hummed silently in wait. Cid was with the group, smoking a cigarette and muttering about having to wait. Some things never changed. Despite Red XIII not being there and Reeve no longer using the stuffed cat, the surprise was Vincent had attended. The man in red still remained separated from them all, but his one love's child always grabbed his attention.

And then there was Tifa. She was positively glowing and it was easy to see why. In her arms was a small boy with blonde hair and auburn eyes. No older than a year, he was the big surprise Tifa had for Aerith. It seemed everyone was full of surprises.

Cloud was to the side in his standard SOLDIER uniform, the Ultima Weapon on his back. Again, the oddity was due to the company. His mako saturated eyes were intense as he waited, though he could see a sliver of silver disappear into the car from the deck. Had it not been for his wife, this may have driven him mad.

Aerith exited the car with all the grace she had always had. In a sundress and white hat, she could still stir the emotions of those around her. A smile greeted them all and her hands rested in her stomach. Everyone stared. As she approached Cloud, her eyes were filled with joy at seeing him.

"Hi, Cloud. It's been so long." she said with a warm tone. He kept staring down at her stomach. When he finally had the strength to look up at her, his shock was answered with her giggling lightly and tilting her head. She could just kiss him.

"Aerith, it looks like we're not the only one with a new addition." came a voice over his shoulder. Aerith peeked around him to find Tifa and her baby. She shrieked in joy and rushed around to see him.

"He's adorable! Looks just like Cloud! And how are you doing, Mrs. Strife?" Aerith cooed as she looked up from the baby to Tifa. It had been so long, they both thought at the same time. The two began to laugh and talk just like two hens. The rooster was glaring into the depths of the car. He knew who was inside and wouldn't take his eyes away.

A good ten minutes passed before his eyes narrowed. A boot hit the dirt as a form appeared outside. At the sight of him, everyone stopped and looked. Sephiroth looked the exact same, tall and proud with a certain ominous energy about him. Cloud faced him, but no words were spoken. Marlene and Tifa were lost on the baby for a moment and Aerith turned with Cloud's child in her arms, looking upon her own angel. Though everyone else feared him, she loved him.

"Sephiroth…"

Cloud said it with such contempt. Many nights had plagued him, thinking of him and Aerith out in the world together. Seeing her with his child, for he knew that it was his child, made Cloud weak in the knees. Despite his claims of him being a pawn of Jenova, he didn't trust that for a second.

Sephiroth said nothing but just stared right back. There was something foreboding in his eyes; something that made Cloud uneasy. The others were just afraid of him, but Cloud was petrified. This reformed devil had powers that none of them could understand. It was impossible for him to change and unlikely he would want to. Somehow the others didn't see this, but he knew it was only a matter of time.

That time came quickly.

Unholy speed and a steel sense of purpose were a deadly combination. Only a flash of light and shifting of the wind gave him a clue of what happened, though the sharp truth was quick to set in. Cloud fell forwards slightly and looked down at the blade of the Masamune, marked red and broken in his chest. No, the blade was whole; he was broken. Time was passing so slowly that he watched the black fabric of his coat and his silver mane settle after the lunge, becoming that night and day form which haunted his dreams. It was odd that he didn't feel the actual blade in his chest, but the spreading warmth of his blood filling his insides. Behind his back, the Ultima Weapon was shattered by the tip of the Masamune and left as a jagged hilt on a strap. This all came with Sephiroth looking at him out of the corner of his eye. The one thing that enraged him was Sephiroth was smiling at him. The angel had planned it! This was all destined to be by this man who would be a god. Without warning or explanation, Sephiroth destroyed Cloud.

Tifa screamed as she watched Cloud fall from Sephiroth's sword for the second time. But now he was her husband and the father of her child. It destroyed her as well. Forgetting the child for a moment, she rushed to him and fell weeping at his side, cradling his head in a panic. The others were so shocked that they were cemented in place. But perhaps the person most broken was Aerith. Her eyes had drained off their color as she watched it all, her mouth open in sheer disbelief. All of it had been a lie. Had it? Did Sephiroth plan to do this? Had he used her? Did their child mean nothing? Tifa's crying and her child's as well didn't stir those green eyes from the angel. He stood above Cloud, holding the stained blade at his side. His eyes were locked on Aerith.

"Sephiroth?" she uttered and nearly fell to the ground. She was holding Cloud's child, watching the man she loved kill its father. Nothing registered but everything hurt. If one more thing were to shift, she would have just stopped working.

"You damn son of a bitch!" Barret howled and stayed in front of Marlene. She was stunned beyond description. Cid was busy roaring orders into a radio for the Highwind to come, but it was too late. Sephiroth casually placed his sword along his arm and closed his eyes, apparently muted by his actions. Then the ground shook.

The car was thrown effortlessly into the air as the ground exploded behind him, making a plume of energy rise out to warn the heavens. The last, most fearsome Weapon rose from the hole behind Sephiroth and howled in power. Omega Weapon. It was a forsaken Weapon and had remained dormant throughout the crisis. Now, Sephiroth had awakened it. As it stood heaving behind him, Sephiroth finally opened his eyes, his mouth and his mind.

"I have ended it. Meteor is gone, but I still will rule this planet. My child will grow inside of the Cetra and be born superior to any human. It will rise and fulfill my dream of reclaiming the Planet for us." The last part was said directly to Aerith. Although she could not believe what he was saying, she could not turn away from him. She could only rest her free hand across her stomach and fight the burning tears in her eyes. Sephiroth looked slowly down to Tifa as she deeply mourned Cloud. There was no remorse for her in him. "He died because he was not supposed to be. The moment he was given Jenova, he was dead. Love him and hate me, but never forget that he was me." It was not the thing she wanted to hear, but it was given. Omega Weapon seemed to be getting restless behind him and stirred, but he took one last moment to look at Aerith.

And then there was a kind of sadness in him. She felt his lifeforce diminish even as he longed for her, but could not have her. She hated him and loved him, but never gave him away to oblivion. In her belly was their child, beautiful and unique. In her arms was Cloud's child, powerful and destined. But in her heart, there was Sephiroth. Despite seeing Cloud's death upon that blade, she could not forsake him. Unfortunately, she could not stop him either.

"Goodbye, Cetra."

At once he turned and drew on Omega Weapon. It seemed to liven the beast up and it reared back, as if surprised. When Sephiroth lunged and took a great swipe of his Masamune, the beast came down on him. The two exploded into a shower of sparks and wind. Nothing was left but a shattered sword and a memory. In the span of ten minutes, the Planet's greatest hero and villain were gone and forgotten. Only their loved ones felt the loss.

Tifa would not move from Cloud; only hold his head close and weep deeply for him. Barret looked away and held Marlene, more for his comfort than hers. Cid was off to punish his crew for slow reactions and Vincent was gone.

Aerith was alone. In her arms, the child had fallen asleep, but she hadn't noticed. Sephiroth was gone in a flower of light and Cloud was cold on the ground. She had lost everything. Her mind told her that, but her heart moved her hand across her stomach. In the end, she still had what mattered. Within her womb was a new beginning for this Planet, though not as Sephiroth had wanted. She would make sure of that. With her arms was Cloud's legacy and Tifa's salvation. They would be closer than ever. And within Sephiroth's last glance, there was a love that she had always longed for.

He may have said "Cetra" at the end, but he had meant "my love."



Author's Note: I am, you might say, a fan of the tragic ending. As much as I wish Tifa and Cloud a happy life, there had to be a death looming in the end. Sephiroth needed a better end than that and Cloud was just pulled down as well. To those of you who wanted the happy ending, write it yourself! I am actually thinking of passing this story on to another author to see what they can do with it. Contact me if you are interested, but remember permission is the line between brilliance and plagiarism.

This is the final part that I will write for Sinned. If it comforts anyone, at least enjoy the final sentence, for it brings it all together. It was for you, Aerith. Rest In Peace