Chapter 6

The glass alter stood still, as it always did. It had been there for many years, and except for the occasional visitor, all the alter did was collect dust. Much like the race of people who once used it, it was all but forgotten. It had been a few months since someone had visited it. And on that visit, the Cetra race was almost erased from history.

Phoenix stared at it the alter from the ground, looking at the glass stairs, then up to the alter itself. He slowly put a hand over his heart, really it rapidly beating in his chest. He had no idea why he was having a hard time breathing, but he was. He gulped hard then started to hop up the glass stairs. He stopped when he reached the top stair. Something caught his eye. He turned to his right and looked down into the pool below.The water stood un-moved, but below it lay something. Phoenix looked forward at the alter, then quickly took his back-pack off and slammed it on the it. He gently tossed the sword next to the pack-back, then his coat next to the sword. He then looked down at the pool, then dove in.


"You sure you don't want us to come with you" Red asked, looking up at Cloud and Tifa. Tifa glanced up at Cloud, but Cloud shook his head.

"No, Tifa and me will be fine. I want to make sure this kid is stopped. We can't chance that he'd get all those pieces. We know he probably has three for sure. We're not certain about that last one, so I'd like to make sure" Cloud stated, sounding very serious. Red nodded as his tail swung around in the air.

"Understood. Although, the odds would be more in our favor if we went together" Red stated. Cloud did his patent shrug.

"Yeah, but if we spilt up we will cover two possibilities. And it will still be two-on-one if we do run into the boy" Cloud stated. Tifa jabbed her toe into the ground.

"Plus...I wanna go back to the City...I mean...Cloud...this isn't going to be easy on us, but we both..." Tifa stated. Cloud nodded as leaned onto the wall.

"I know...I know, but we need to. I mean, we can't hide from it forever...and I don't mean the..." Cloud began, but Red shook his head.

"No-no, I understand. That's why I'm curious as to why you and Tifa want to go there and not...well, why not me and Cid?" Red asked, looking up into Cloud's eyes. Cloud turned away and looked at the ground.

"I....we need to go there eventually Red. I mean, we can't avoid it forever" Cloud stated. Tifa gulped and clenched her eyes closed.

"No, we can't...and well, this gives us a reason" Tifa said. Red nodded as he stood up.

"I understand...we will come as soon as we finish searching in Costa-Del-Sol. That may take awhile, or it could happen very quickly" Red stated. Cloud and Tifa both nodded. Cid appeared in the huge room from the cock-pit and looked at them.

"We're there, just need to drop the ladder...Cloud, Tifa, me and Red can go if you guys don't..." Cid began, but Tifa shook her head.

"No Cid, we want to do this" Tifa responded. Cid nodded his head, then pulled out the cigarette out of his mouth and let a huge puff of smoke enter the air. He put it back in his mouth and took a deep hit. He started to walk up the stairs.

"Let's go then, we don't got all day" Cid responded softly.


The once still water was not violent as the boy swam through it, heading towards the bottom of the pool. He finally reached the bottom and looked at what appeared to be a pearl. He gently wrapped his fingers around it, then suddenly a white flash shot out. Phoenix covered his face with her free hand, then gently pulled back to look at it. His eyes locked onto it as he felt himself getting light-headed. He quickly swam to the surface, his legs pushing hard. His head pushed through the surface of water as air rushed into his lungs. He pushed himself out of the water with one hand, then looked at the pearl. As he studied it, he realized that this was no pearl.

"It's materia" he said out-loud as he stared at it. He lunged to his feet and run up the stairs until he reached the top. He opened his back-pack and pulled out his notebook. He flipped through the pages, then stopped suddenly and began to read.

"That's what this is" he said out-loud again. He placed the white materia down next to the sword. He quickly pulled out a dry, clean pair of clothes and tossed them aside. Then, he pulled a large square box out of the backpack. Then, he pulled out the four pieces of materia.

"It's almost time..." he said as he picked up the dry clothes. He stared down at the sword and the materia. A small smile covered his face.


"So...we ready to face this?" Tifa said to Cloud as they stood in front of the city. Cloud nodded, then grabbed her hand.

"As ready as we'll ever be" Cloud said as he rubbed her hand with his. Tifa sighed softly and gripped his hand tightly.

"I don't like this...I feel like...something bad will happen" Tifa stated, looking forward. Cloud nodded and closed his eyes.

"I think cause...will, something bad did happen here...look, all we need to do is go in, look around, make sure he's not here, then we can wait out here" Cloud said quickly. Tifa nodded as she gently pulled her hand away.

"Come on...let's get this over with" she said as they slowly walked in.


"So you find anything useful?" Barret asked as he sat up in his bed, looking over at Reeve. Reeve just shook his head a bit as he kept typing.

"Not really no" Reeve replied. Barret glared over at Reeve, then slammed his hand into the mattress.

"I hate this! We're all cooped up in here and the others could be out there fighting for all we know!" Barret screamed. Reeve sighed as he kept typing, looking at the computer screen.

"Hot-head" he murmured. Barret's eyes flung open as he stood up out of bed.

"What was that?" Barret screamed. Reeve's eyes went wide and looked at him

"Nothing...!" Reeve said as he felt himself blushing.


Cloud entered the house. Although Tifa did not realize it, this house haunted his dreams almost as much where they lost Aeris. This is where he was sleeping that night. The night when he should have been there with her. Instead, he gave in and slept. Cloud closed his eyes as he entered the room.

"I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry..." he murmured softly to himself as he leaned on the wall with one hand. He covered his face with the other. No matter what anyone, including himself, had said; he would always feel guilty for that mistake. That day; that hour; that moment was something he could never and would never forget. He had failed.

"I promised to be your body guard...and I failed!" Cloud screamed as his eyes went wide and he slammed his fist into the wall.

"Cloud...Cloud...!" he heard as he turned towards the door. In the distance he saw Tifa running towards him. Cloud ran out of the house and meet her at the doorway. Tifa's face was covered in horror.

"Cloud...the staircase...down to where Aeris....well...it's open!" Tifa said. Cloud's mouth opened as he tried to find words, but nothing came. He then started to sprint that way, his legs churning hard. Tifa turned and followed behind him. Both of them sprinted towards the house. Cloud and Tifa stared at the house they had dubbed 'The sea-shell house'. Cloud looked at Tifa, who nodded her head; her face looking set and sure.

"I'm not kidding Cloud...!" Tifa started, but Cloud went running into the building. Tifa blinked but then went running after him. Cloud stopped at the top of the steps.

"It's like...like that night...!" Cloud stammered. Tifa took a deep breathe. They then nodded to each other, then both went sprinting down the steps.

"This is not possible...!" Cloud screamed as he ran down the steps. Tifa followed behind him. Both of them turned to see the alter and stopped dead in their tracks.

"You son of a bitch!" Tifa screamed when she saw the boy standing there. Cloud sprinted down the stairs, pulling his sword out. Tifa followed quickly in pursuit.

"I don't know what you're doing here, but I'm sick of you! It will end here" Cloud shouted as he jumped from the steps and landed on the ground. The boy seemingly ignored them as he stood up there. Just as Cloud and Tifa neared the glass stepping-stones, the boy spun around and flung his hand towards them.

"Makankosappo!" he screamed as a screw-beam of energy flung from his fingers. Cloud and Tifa both stopped and jumped to the side, but the blast slammed into the ground, causing a huge eruption. Cloud and Tifa went flying through the air and landed on the ground with a thud. The boy spun around. He placed the four materia pieces onto the machine at the corners. The machine began to hum. The boy turned around and glared down at Cloud, then over at Tifa.

"You two cannot keep me from my father!" Phoenix yelled down at them, then turned back around towards the machine. Cloud coughed as he stood up. He looked at Tifa, who was still laying on the ground. Cloud ran over towards her and knelt down, grabbing her wrist. Tifa turned over and looked up at him.

"Did....did he just say father?" Tifa said, her eyes growing wide as her face froze in fear. Cloud turned and looked up as Phoenix held the Masumane in the air.

"It's impossible...! I mean, it's impossible!" Cloud screamed out. The boy placed the sword into a slot on the machine, then pressed his hands onto the controls. He turned and ran down the steps as suddenly, a huge green column of bright light formed around the machine. Everyone turned away as the bright green light blinded the room. Then, it sounded like a thunder bolt hit. Cloud peered through his hand, the green light still glowing through the cracks. Cloud turned back to Tifa.

"What happening" They both said at the same time. Suddenly, an area in the green light separated as Sephiroth walked through it, much like someone walking through a water-fall. The light died down as soon as he stepped through. He looked back and grabbed his sword from the machine. He gently took the blade and ran it down his arm, feeling the cold steel against his arm. Cloud turned and looked back, but the moment his eyes saw Sephiroth, his jaw flung open. The Ultima Weapon fell from his hand as he stared, his body trembling in fear. Sephiroth threw his head back and began to laugh.

"I am alive! I do not know how...but I am alive!" Sephiroth screamed as his laugh echoed off the walls, filling the air with their chill. Tifa scrambled to her feet, nearly tripping herself.

"This is not happening..." Tifa stammered, her mouth hanging open. Her body shook around in fear as she watched Sephiroth stepped down onto the highest step . He glared over at Tifa and Cloud and sneered. Phoenix's face covered in delight as he moved forward as he looked up at Sephiroth.

"Oh, I assure you...Round Three has begun Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockheart. The third time is a charm" Sephiroth stated. Cloud reached down and snatched up his sword. Tifa crotched into a defensive position much like a mouse does before the cat attacks it. Sephiroth slowly turned his head to face the boy.

"And who are you?" Sephiroth asked, glaring at him. The boy smiled as he stepped onto the first step

"Father...I'm your son...Phoenix" The boy stated, looking up at him. Sephiroth straightened his back out, tilting his head towards the boy. Phoenix took the next step up.

"Father...I am the one who brought you back. It was my mission" Phoenix stated as his eyes filled with admiration.


"Well, this was a waste of time" Cid called out to Red. Red glanced up from his spot near the building, where he was laying in the shade.

"You've found out so soon?" Red asked calmly, peering up at him. Cid dropped a newspaper in front of Red.

"Headlines say they found a materia dealer dead behind a bunch of buildings. There was a hole in the ground and a broken shovel" Cid remarked. Red read over the newspaper, his eyes scanning the article. His tail flapped in the breeze. It hit into Cid's leg, causing Cid to jump aside.

"Watch it there Red!" Cid wailed a bit, looking down at his leg. Red rolled his eyes as he read.

"Sorry...sounds like the boy's work...we better head to the City of the Ancients" Red remarked as he stood up and stretched himself out. Cid nodded as he pulled out a new cigarette and jammed it into his lips.

"Let's move out then damnit. I can't wait to get my hands on that punk" Cid remarked as they headed back towards the Highwind.


"That's garbage! That is not possible! You never had a son!" Cloud screamed out as his teeth chattered around in his mouth. Sephiroth spun and looked down at Cloud with narrow eyes.

"Since when did you become my biographer?" Sephiroth hissed. Tifa's body trembled as she stood beside Cloud. Her feet were shaking as if she was in an earthquake.

"We've killed you before Sephiroth! You're not some immortal god like you thought!" Tifa stammered out. Sephiroth gracefully jumped into the air and landed on the ground in front of them both. As he straightened himself out he stared into their eyes.

"I under-estimated you before. That same mistake will not happen twice" Sephiroth replied coldly as he held the sword to the side. Suddenly, the boy landed behind him, his staff appearing in his hand.

"Father, I shall..." Phoenix began but Sephiroth held up his free hand.

"Shut up. I do not need your help to deal with these two...weaklings" Sephiroth remarked as a smile covered his damned face. Tifa took a step back, her legs shaking more than a flag in the wind.

"Why you smiling...?" Tifa forced out as her hands began to numb from holding them together so tightly. Sephiroth leaned back and let out a demonic laugh, then straightened again.

"Revenge has been a long time coming. You two have won battles, but I will win this war" Sephiroth snapped as he bent down into a fighting stance.


"You crack that yet?" Barret whined as he looked over his magazine at Reeve. Reeve tapped on the keyboard quickly, his eyes scanning the screen closely.

"I'm almost there...got it..!" Reeve said with a touch of pride. Barret put the magazine down and pushed himself to his feet.

"And, what did you find?" Barret calmly asked as he walked over behind Reeve. Reeve's mouth open as he was reading. Barret blinked and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Come on Reeve...this is no time to joke..." Barret began, but suddenly Reeve spun the chair around and stood up.

"It is Sephiroth's son! That boy. He is Sephiroth's son!" Reeve screamed, pointing to the screen. Barret leaned down and began to read, his face going from one of anger to one of confusion. Then the anger returned.

"That...that twisted fuck Hojo...!" Barret screamed as he clenched his gun-arm with his free hand. Reeve's eyes flung open as he jumped back in front of Barret, his arms out to the sides.

"Don't shoot the computer!" Reeve screamed as his body shook. Barret rolled his eyes, then let go his gun-arm. He glared at Reeve.

"I'm not going to!" Barret roared back, causing Reeve's hair to stand up on edge. Reeve gulped and smiled, nodding like an idiot.


Cloud gently let go of his sword with one hand and put it on Tifa's shoulder. Tifa's eyes went wide and she grabbed the hand.

"You are not fighting him alone" Tifa snapped, throwing his hand off her. Cloud did not turn but his eyes focused on her.

"I am not telling you that. I'm going to fight him now. He told the boy to stay out of it...so we need to take Sephiroth out quick as possible. If we get lucky, we can catch him off guard...look, watch that boy. If he don't get involved, wait for the right moment to attack" Cloud commanded in a low voice as his eyes turned back to Sephiroth. Sephiroth tapped the Masamune on the ground a few times.

"Are we done chit-chatting?" Sephiroth hissed as he drew back into his fighting position, the sword hanging motionless in the sky. Cloud and Sephiroth stared at each other as they stood there.

"Yes..." Cloud stated as he ran towards Sephiroth. He swung his sword at his enemy's side, but Sephiroth blocked it easily. He spun and put his sword up as Sephiroth tried to rip his head off of his neck. Cloud started to push the sword away, but Sephiroth spun away and went back into his initial position a few feet away.

"Simple. Too simple" Sephiroth chimed as Cloud ran at him again, swinging the sword at his side harder this time. He blocked it again, but as Cloud spun he put his hand up, slapping Sephiroth's face as he spun. His face covered in surprise as Cloud stopped turning and swung the sword at his side once again. Sephiroth quickly stepped back as the blade barely missed his stomach. As Cloud's body moved with the force of swinging, Sephiroth slammed a forearm into his head, knocking Cloud onto his back. Cloud quickly rolled through it and got to his feet. They both stopped and stared at each other again.

"Want me to slow down until you catch up to my speed?" Cloud asked snidely, glaring at Sephiroth. Sephiroth's eye widened a bit, then narrowed.

"You will never be a swordsman as I am. Never" Sephiroth snapped as he glared at that spikey-haired punk.

"Times change Sephiroth" Cloud softly remarked as he rushed at Sephiroth. He held his sword high and began to swing at Sephiroth's side, but he stopped the blade and hopped backwards, trying to confuse him. But Sephiroth swung the Masamune at Cloud quickly, giving Cloud little time to block. Cloud stumbled back from the impact while Sephiroth repeated the attack. Cloud barely got his sword up to block, and when he did Sephiroth pushed downward towards his face. Cloud fell to a knee as he pressed upwards. Tifa gasped and took a step forward, then stopped. The boy, who stood on the second stair, glared at her. Suddenly, his staff appeared in his hand. Tifa gulped but stopped her forward motion.

"Come on Cloud..." Tifa muttered. Cloud grunted as his sword sent its counter-part backwards. He shoulder-blocked Sephiroth, knocking him a few steps back. He dashed at him and swung at Sephiroth wildly, but Sephiroth just sidestepped. Cloud spun and swung at Sephiroth again, but Sephiroth ducked down and lunged forward, head-butting Cloud in the gut. Cloud doubled-over for a moment, then rushed wildly at Sephiroth again. He jumped up and lunged at him, but Sephiroth just side-stepped. The Masamune slammed into his back, slamming him into the ground. Cloud tried to push up, but Sephiroth put his foot on his back and held him down. The blade of the sword rubbed the back of Cloud's neck.

"Amateur" Sephiroth hissed. Sephiroth looked up as he heard footsteps approaching. Tifa decked him right in the face, sending him stumbling back. He dropped his sword as Tifa ran at him and somersaulted off his chest, knocking him onto his back. The boy's face covered in anger as he watched. Silently, the staff disappeared. He started moving his hands around rapidly. Tifa spun and raced back to Cloud. She bent down, but he rolled over and got to his knees.

"Tifa, why didn't you keep after him?" Cloud screamed in disbelief. Her mouth hung open. She looked down, searching for an answer.

"Burning Attack!" Phoenix screamed from the stair. Suddenly, a ball of silver energy flew down at them. Cloud grabbed Tifa and spun her around, holding her. The ball hit the ground and exploded, sending them both flying through the air. Sephiroth looked up at the boy.

"You idiot! I told you...I ordered you not to interfere! This is my fight, not yours!" Sephiroth snapped as he got to his feet. He reached down and picked up his sword, twisting his wrist. Phoenix blinked a few times.

"Father...I..." Phoenix began, but Sephiroth just turned his back and walked towards Cloud and Tifa. Phoenix watched Sephiroth go. Out of the corner of his eyes, Phoenix saw that piece of whiter materia. He glanced back over at it, then went up the next few steps.

"Miserable twits. Taken out by some boy's materia" Sephiroth said as he approached Cloud and Tifa. Cloud rolled over and fought to his feet. He raised the sword in front of him, his hands shaking.

"I'm not afraid of you..." Cloud stammered. Sephiroth stopped walking, then laughed. He took one hand off the sword and held it to his chest as he laughed.

"You have always feared me. You always will" Sephiroth remarked. Phoenix touched a few controls on the Nifix Device. Tifa sniffed the air as she leaned up. The smell of burnt flesh filled her nose. Looking up, the back of Cloud's shirt had been ripped away from the blast. Tifa gasped a bit as she got to her feet.

"Cloud, your back..." Tifa whimpered as she stumbled around. She finally planted her feet and put her fists up. Sephiroth glared at the duo as he leveled the sword towards them. Cloud glanced over his shoulder at Tifa, then forward again. Taking a deep breathe, he lunged at Sephiroth, but his body was too slow. Sephiroth quickly side-stepped and put his knee up, causing Cloud to run right into it. Cloud grimaced as his ribs slammed into the knee then fell to his own knees once his support was removed. Sephiroth kicked him right in the face, knocking him over. Tifa shrieked but then ran at Sephiroth herself. She jumped and punched towards Sephiroth's face, but he just ducked and elbowed her in the gut, knocking her back down to the ground. Sephiroth walked over top of them and glared down.

"If possible, you two may have grown even more pathetic" Sephiroth chimed as he laughed harshly. He took the blade of his sword and rubbed it into the back of Cloud. He pulled down, drawing a line in blood on Cloud's burnt back. Cloud began to scream out in pain, but Sephiroth kicked him right in the face. Phoenix gently placed the white materia on the Nifix Device, then took a deep breathe. Sephiroth pressed the sword a little harder, blood coating the tip of the blade.

"Quiet you coward" Sephiroth hissed as he drew another line down on his back, forming an "X" on Cloud's black. Sephiroth marched over towards Tifa, who was trying to get to her feet. Sephiroth kicked her right in the head, knocking her back down. He calmly put the sword on her back, tearing through the clothes. He slowly drew an "X" of blood on her back, the sword piercing her body. Tifa lay motionless on the ground as blood stained her white shirt.

"Pathetic" Sephiroth snidely said, then turned towards the staircase leading to the rest of the world. Phoenix glanced up as he heard his father's footsteps on the other staircase. He blinked a few times then looked back down at the machine. It was humming, ready to go to work. Phoenix looked at the materia shimmering in the light before he looked back over at his father leaving. Phoenix pressed the last switch then ran down the staircase towards Sephiroth.

"Wait, father" Phoenix called out as he began to sprint up the stairs. The alter in the center of the room was covered in green light once again, causing the entire area to glow an eerie green color.


"What...where..." Cloud muttered as his blue eyes fluttered. He tried to push himself up, but his arms turned to jello and he fell flat on his face. As he looked up again, he saw a figure climbing the stairs. His eyes flung open.

"Aeris...Aeris..!" he yelled as he reached forward a hand. The figure stopped and turned, her brown hair spinning in the breeze. She smiled faintly at him before she turned and ran away. Cloud kept his arm in the air, reaching for something that was not there.

"Aeris...wait...don't..." Cloud stammered as he fell flat on his face. He pushed up again and looked at the stairs, but she was gone.

"No..." Cloud murmured as he fell back onto his face, his eyes slamming shut tight.


"Father...!" Phoenix called out as he reached the peak of the hill. He glanced around as he scanned the area. Snow was softly falling on the ground, but the footprints still stood out on the ground. Phoenix spotted them and followed the prints. He walked down into a small valley then up the next hill. By the time he reached the hill, an inch of snow laid on his shoulders. He sneezed, sending snow flying off of him and joining their brothers in falling to the ground.

"Father!" Phoenix called out again as he kept on the prints, searching for Sephiroth.


"Do you think that kid got here?" Cid lamented as he jumped off the ladder. Dust flew upwards as his feet hit the ground. Red glanced back at him.

"You've asked me that a hundred times Cid. And for the hundredth time, I'm not sure" Red said. He paused a moment then turned and walked towards Bone Village. Cid shook his head, then pulled out a cigarette. He jogged up to Red then slowed to a walk, placing the cigarette in his mouth.

"Even so, I betcha Cloud and Tifa could handle him" Cid nodded, lighting his cigarette. Red swung his tail in the air, his eyes drifting around.

"Perhaps. But Cloud could not defeat him alone before" Red remarked as they reached the outskirts of the town. Cid shook his arm in the air.

"Yeah, but he was unprepared. Plus Tifa will be there this time" Cid said. Red stopped and looked up at him.

"You assume the boy got here already, it would seem" Red stated matter-of-factly. Cid slowed to a stop a few steps ahead of Red. He let out a deep hit from his cigarette. A smoke screen covered his face.

"I hope they already fought him Red" Cid muttered, then began to walk again. Red nodded as a sigh emerged from him, then he followed behind him.


"Father...!" Phoenix called out, seeing a figure in the distance. The figure slowed as the name must have hit them, then began to march onward. Phoenix smirked as he ran forward.

"Father...! Where are you going?" Phoenix screamed as he rushed through the snow, trying to reach the figure. He tripped and fell onto the ground. He pushed himself up, shaking his head. He sprinted again into the blinding blizzard. As he approached the mountains, less snow fell on him. Again, in the distance he saw his father. He ran as fast as he could.

"Father...wait for me...!" Phoenix called out, his arms pumping at his sides. Sephiroth kept marching forward, not even throwing a look back at the boy. As he turned a corner near the mountain, he slammed his fist into the mountain. A small avalanche occurred as a few feet of snow slide down the hill, forming a huge mound of snow as well as a roadblock. He marched onward, the city of Icicle Inn within his line of sight. He stalled when he heard a small explosion from behind him. He glanced over his shoulder as the mound of snow exploded upwards as the boy came running through the snow cloud.

"Wait...Father..." Phoenix called out once again. He ran through the snow blindly, barely able to make out the figure ahead of him. The figure seemed to be moving his arms a bit as Phoenix grew closer. Phoenix grew confused, but suddenly that confusion left him. A sharp pain entered his chest as he halted to a stop. Gasping, Phoenix looked down. His stomach had been pierced by the Masamune. Phoenix placed his hands on the blade and pulled a bit, unable to move.

"Fa...fa....father..." Phoenix gasped, his black shirt turning a crimson color. Phoenix's mis-matched eyes went wide as he fought for breathe. Sephiroth glared at the boy intensely.

"I have no son. You must have failed to realize that. I do not have a son, nor do I want one! I am the greatest Soldier who ever lived. I am Jenova's offspring. You...you are a pissant science experiment. I bet Hojo made you for kicks. I do not care why you exist. I never wanted a son! Hence, you will never be my son!" Sephiroth screamed. Phoenix's eyes glossed over in a mixture of mental and physical pain.

"Father...I brought...brought you....life..." Phoenix said as his eyes began to water. Sephiroth made a fist with his left hand, then rabbit-punched him right in the face. The fist hit Phoenix right in the right eye, knocking him off the sword due to force. Phoenix slammed into the ground, his blue eye swelling shut at once.

"I'm not sure if your my real genetic son or some clever fake. I do not care either. I will kill this whole world boy, and I guess you are my first victim. It's a shame...you could give life to any number of people. You were gullible...to think I would spare you is nonsense. Whatever bullshit Hojo or whoever feed you is just that. I do not have a son. I do not want a son" Sephiroth spat, glaring down at the boy. Phoenix reached up weakly with his hand. Sephiroth watched the hand near his leg, then slapped it back down.

"Never...never will you be my offspring" Sephiroth stated, turning and walking into the blizzard. Phoenix kept his arm in the air, reaching.

"Father...father..." he called out, his arm shaking wildly. His arm then slammed down into the ground, sending a dusting of snow into the air. He laid there as the once white snow turned bright red. His green eye remained open, cast in confusion.


Cloud's eyes fluttered open again. He groaned lightly as he pushed himself up to his hands and knees. He finished standing up, then stretched his tired body out. As he stretched, he caught sight of Tifa, still laying on the ground. Her once white shirt was now coated in blood. Cloud reached down and rubbed the wound. He opened the shirt up a bit, dry blood covering her back. Cloud scrapped the blood off with his hands, sending the dry chips into the air. But once he cleared it away, Cloud grew even more confused. Blinking, Cloud gently grabbed Tifa's shoulder and turned her over so she faced up.

"Tifa..Tifa...snap too!" Cloud screamed as he began to shake her. Her eyes jolted open as she looked up at him.

"Cloud, stop-stop. What's...are you ok?" Tifa exclaimed as her brain flooded with the recent memories. Cloud nodded as he let her go, sitting her down. Cloud turned his back to her.

"How do I look?" Cloud asked calmly. Tifa gulped as she began to peel the dried blood off his back. Her face grew concerned as blood fluttered in the air. Then, she smiled brightly.

"How did you heal us? I mean, your back looks perfectly fine...except for a very thin line up and down your back where he must have cut you...how did you do this?" Tifa asked as Cloud spun back around to face her again. He folded his arms over his chest.

"I didn't do this..I know who did though!" Cloud said with a touch of hope in his voice. Tifa blinked a few times as she stood up, then smiled softly.

"Did Red and Cid get here?" Tifa asked as she looked around. Cloud shook his head.

"Not them" Cloud remarked. Tifa made a face and smiled a little more.

"Ok then, who did?" Tifa asked. Cloud stood up and put his hands on her shoulders, gripping them lightly.

"Aeris did" Cloud stated. Tifa's eyes went wide, then she laughed a bit. She looked off to her left, then to her right.

"Funny Cloud...really, where did Red and Cid go?" Tifa asked. Cloud gripped her shoulders tighter as she looked back at him. His face was set in stone.

"Aeris did. She was here. I saw her" Cloud replied. Tifa's smile faded away and turned upside down.

"Cloud...don't do this to yourself...to us. Aeris is dead" Tifa remarked. Cloud spun away and looked towards the alter.

"And so was Sephiroth and he came back...!" Cloud replied frantically. Tifa held her hands over heavy heart, letting out a deep sigh.

"Cloud...why would that boy bring Aeris back? I mean...hope and all that, but still Cloud...!" Tifa stated, her heart pounding so hard her hands felt it. Cloud spun around again, facing her once more. His face was covered in desperation.

"I swear Tifa! I saw her! She must have healed us...who else could have? It only makes sense that she did!" Cloud exclaimed, once again grabbing her shoulders. Tifa's eyes flooded out sadness.

"I wish it was...but Cloud, why would she leave? I mean, even if the illogical happened again and it was Aeris...why would she leave?" Tifa asked as small tear-ducts flowed down her face. Cloud's eyes blinked and when they re-opened the happiness faded away.

"I...I..maybe she...it can't be a dream! Can it?" Cloud asked Tifa, his own eyes welling up. Tifa shook her head, then looked over his shoulder at the machine.

"It's possible...maybe, I'm not sure...but Cloud, I don't think so. Logically...the only person who operated that machine was that boy. And why on Earth would he bring Aeris back... I mean, he claims his father is Sephiroth!" Tifa stated, her own face masked in a world of emotions. Cloud nodded, then took a hand off her left shoulder and cleaned the tears off his face.

"I just...I wanna tell her..." Cloud began, but Tifa put a finger to his lips.

"So much...we all do. Now is not the time...we need to go stop Sephiroth and Phoenix now. We all wanna see her Cloud, and she wants to see us to I bet...but Aeris would never ask us to bring her back to life when the world could be in danger..." Tifa stated, looking into his eyes. She could tell the thoughts were mixing into his brain. Slowly, Cloud nodded and looked back at the machine.

"Can you imagine what a person could do with that machine...?" Cloud muttered. Tifa looked at the machine herself, then down at the ground. She openly cried now, her tears over-flowing the ducts.

"I do..but it's not right! Cloud, people die...! We need to leave them dead...!" Tifa screamed, throwing herself on him. Cloud closed his eyes tightly.

"You're right...after we defeat Sephiroth, we're coming back here...and we're going to destroy it" Cloud remarked. Tifa pushed back from him and looked up at him.

"No one...?" Tifa forced out as she could barely make Cloud out through all the tears. Cloud looked down.

"No one..." he stated slowly. Tifa wrapped her arms around him, laying her head on his chest. Cloud put his arms around her and rested his head on hers gently.


"You guys are lying" Yuffie said as she crossed her arms over her chest. Reeve looked over at Barret, who shrugged his massive shoulders.

"Yuffie, why would we lie about this?" Barret asked. Yuffie thought for a moment, looking at the ceiling. She looked back down at Barret with narrow eyes.

"You're just trying to play a joke on me!" Yuffie stated. Barret rolled his eyes and turned to his side. Reeve sighed.

"Yuffie, we are dead-serious. This is not the time to play a joke on someone. Here, look at this" Reeve spat out as he shoved a piece of paper into her crossed arms. She unfolded her arms then looked at the paper. She read over it a few times. When she finished, she peeked over the top of the paper and looked at Reeve and then at Barret.

"So, no joke..." Yuffie mumbled softly. Barret turned back to her, his arms in the air.

"We told you we're not joking!" Barret roared. Yuffie's eyes disappeared behind the paper again as Reeve rubbed his head.


"Hopefully they'll be here soon" Tifa said as she walked off the last stair leading down to the alter. Cloud stopped as he reached the last step. He turned and looked back down at the area below, then took the final step up.

"I do too...we got a lot of work ahead of us" Cloud remarked. Then, in the distance they heard someone calling for them. Tifa and Cloud looked at each other.

"I guess they got here" Tifa and Cloud said at the same time. They both blinked and turned to each other.

"Jinx!" They both screamed, pointing towards the other.Despite themselves, they chuckled. When the finished, Cloud shook his head towards the door as they walked out into the main alleyway around the city.

"Over here guys" Cloud called out as they exited the building. After a few moments, Cid and Red appeared in the distance. As they grew closer, Red and Cid both broke into a sprint towards them.

"Are you two ok? Did you run into that boy?" Red questioned. Cid spit out his cigarette as he grew nearer.

"Did you kick his punk-ass?" Cid screamed as they reached them. Cloud turned towards Tifa, then looked back at them.

"We're fine. Battered but not broken. However, things have gotten more complicated..." Cloud stated softly.


Phoenix opened his green eye slowly. He looked down at his body. A light dusting off snow had fallen on him. Around his stomach, the normally white now was still beat red. He grimaced as he leaned up.

"Not able...to heal..." he stammered out, then fell back down. He closed his eyes tightly as he moved his hands onto the wound.

"Father...I failed you...I'm sorry" Phoenix spit out. A few moments of silence passed until he heard someone running.

"Oh my goodness" came a female's voice. Phoenix's left eye flung open again. Through the blizzard snow came a figure. He tried to squirm away, but his body was too weak. Soon the figure stood above him.

"You look terrible...!" she cried out as she fell to her knees beside him. She gently took his hands into her own. She looked at his face.

"Don't worry...I'm going to try to help..." she stated as she closed her eyes. Phoenix watched her from his un-swollen eye as the young lady was bathed in a green light. Phoenix opened his mouth to speak, but no words came to mind. He looked down at his stomach, watching the blood-stained snow just sitting there. The lady let go of his hands then gently flicked the snow off his stomach.

"I closed the wound...you didn't have much internal damage, which is odd. He must have barely missed you" she remarked as she looked at the hole.

"Who...are....how...?" Phoenix asked, gasping for breathe. She quickly looked back at him, her long brown hair wisping through the air.

"I'm Aeris...I think so. I'm suppose to be...well, not here anyways. I can heal you because I'm a Cetra" she said calmly, looking at him. Phoenix leaned up a bit, holding himself up on his arms. He was still weak, though, and fell onto his back again.

"I see...I need to go..." he began as he once again tried to push up again, but Aeris slide her arms under his back.

"Don't...don't try to push up now. You're extremely weak now...what happened to you?" She asked as her two green eyes meet his one. The boy closed his eye tightly as he tried to push up once again. Aeris gently put him down and pressed on his shoulders. She looked at him as he finally opened his mouth.

"Sephiroth...sword..." Phoenix got out, but Aeris put a finger up to her lips.

"Don't force it...it looks like he did the same to my friends too..." Aeris stated before drifting off, looking away from the boy. Phoenix quit fighting to get up and just let himself drop to the ground.

"Yes.." He forced out. Suddenly, they both heard a surge of screams coming from the nearby town. Aeris looked that way and then down at the boy.

"Is that the way he went?" She asked. Phoenix looked down at his chest a moment before looking up and nodding.

"I'm sorry...! I need to go see what is going on there! I'll come back or I'll send help! I promise!" Aeris screamed as she jumped up and went running into the blizzard. Soon she disappeared, much like his father had. Phoenix waited a moment. As he felt his strength returning he leaned up and rolled onto his belly. He glanced at the way she had gone.

"Father...Aeris, don't go fight Father..!" Phoenix screamed from his position.


"You're bullshitting us!" Cid screamed as he flung his arms out to the sides. Cloud took a deep breathe as he leaned on the building, looking up at Cid.

"I'd lie about something at a time like this?" Cloud snidely remarked, his eyes firing up. He pushed off the building and took a step towards Cid, but Tifa grabbed his arm gently and pulled herself off the building as well.

"Cid, Red...we're being serious. Sephiroth is back" Tifa responded, talking up for the first time since the others had arrived. Red narrowed his eyes a touch as he looked up at them.

"I doubt you both would dream the same thing. But this is hard for us to grasp. You're saying you saw a dead man; a man we helped kill; return" Red said, his eyes focusing on Tifa's. Tifa put a hand on her forehead, gently rubbing her temple.

"We showed you our backs; we told you about device..." Tifa began, but Cid started coughing. Everyone turned to Cid as he kept coughing. He bent over and coughed downwards until finally let loose a wad of gum.

"Damn gum...doesn't mix with cigarette's" Cid lamented as he leaned back up. He looked around and saw that they were all giving him a strange look.

"What?" Cid demanded, his arms at his sides again. Tifa rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms.

"We need to stop wasting time guys. We need to figure out what Sephiroth and Phoenix are up to" Tifa gently twisted her head around, sending her hair flipping around until it fell upon her back. Cloud gently pulled his sword out and held it tightly in one hand.

"We need to plan more than that. Plus, we all know where Sephiroth is heading. I mean, he'd go right back to the North Crater, wouldn't he?" Cloud asked to the group.

"That seems very logical Cloud, but Sephiroth is a smart being. Would he do something so predictable?" Red smartly pointed out. Cloud put his head on his hand, thinking. Cid let out a smoke cloud from his mouth, but that is all that came. Tifa looked at Cid before looking at Cloud. Finally, she stopped on Red.

"He's still strong but not...not like he was. He looked human" Tifa noted. Red nodded as Cloud snapped his fingers. Everyone looked at him. Tifa tilted her head.

"Well?" Tifa asked impatiently. Cloud walked past them and turned around.

"He's got to be heading for North Crater. Red and Cid would have seen him if he was going to Bone Village. But to get to the North Crater, he's going to need to go through Icicle Inn. Remember how bad those mountains are thanks to Meteor? He's in for a long hike. If we get going know...we'll be able to catch up. So let's roll!" Cloud screamed as he went running. Red followed behind. Tifa began to run, but noticed Cid had not moved. Tifa stopped and looked at him.

"Cid, what's wrong?" Tifa asked with a touch of concern. Cid spit out his cigarette.

"Spikey said something logical then gave a decent charge command. I'm shocked" Cid pulled out a new cigarette as he began to run. Tifa chuckled a bit as she followed behind him.


"Very interesting" Sephiroth muttered as the video ended. He stood their in the house, glancing up at where the video had been. Until he found the video player, he had found little use of anything in this town; just a few pieces of weak materia and some threats. He replayed the video, watching the Cetra woman talk about Jenova and Weapon.

"Very interesting...new information to behold..." Sephiroth muttered again. He heard the door open to the house behind him. He looked over his shoulder, but seeing who it was he spun around.

"Cetra!" he hissed between his teeth. Aeris stood in the doorway, glaring down at him.

"Jenova" Aeris replied. Sephiroth calmly pulled his sword out.

"I guess I will have to kill you again" Sephiroth responded as he began to stalk towards her.

"You attack a woman..a woman with no weapon" Aeris replied as Sephiroth drew closer. Sephiroth stopped a few feet away, the sword clenched tightly in one hand.

"Who...why are you back?" Sephiroth asked, tilting his head a bit. Aeris took a deep breathe as she took a step out of the house.

"I saw what you did to my friends..."Aeris responded. Sephiroth took two steps forward, the sword motionless at his side.

"I owed them for stopping me before...much like I owe you for calling upon Holy" Sephiroth hissed at her. Aeris' eye widened as she took another step back out into the cold winter weather.

"I've been dead awhile then...now I remember..." Aeris whispered to herself. Sephiroth lifted the sword into his fighting stance as he took another step towards her.

"You're too dangerous to keep around. You know too much. You knew how to stop Meteor the first time..." Sephiroth began, but Aeris' smiled softly.

"Yeah, shame that failed. That materia is just worthless....dust...now..."Aeris trailed off as her smile faded, realizing what she had just said. Sephiroth dropped out of his fighting stance and glared at her. Then, he leaned back and laughed.

"I can't believe it...! I would have wasted months looking for the Black Materia...! But you told me it's as good as gone now!" Sephiroth laughed, his hair dancing wildly as his body shook. Aeris took another step back, pressing her feet hard into the snow.

"That means you can't kill the whole planet" Aeris said as her smiled returned slightly. Sephiroth returned to his fighting stance as he held the sword tightly.

"There are always more than one way to achieve something. Much like killing you; I could do it a hundred ways. However, I still prefer the way I did it the first time!" Sephiroth screamed as he leapt into the air.