The pillar... it could fall every moment. And up there, Cloud and Tifa's friends were fighting Shinra... that was, there friends minus one. I was kneeled down next to Wedge, who had fallen from way up there, a man lying on the ground, drifting away with every second. The sight of him brought tears to my eyes, and even though I didn't know him, I stroked his cheek, whispering words of comfort. Soon he would be riding the Lifestream.
"Aeris, do me a favor," Tifa's soft voice said with strong urgency. Her lovely red eyes were narrowed with worry as she gazed at me intently, then she glanced back up at the Pillar. Clenching her fists she looked back at me. "There's a little girl at my bar, The Seventh Heaven. Her name is Marlene. Bring her somewhere safe."
"Don't worry, Tifa," I answered, nodding. I didn't move though. I still sat by Wedge. "But... I'm going to stay with him until it's over," I said quietly. I didn't have to tell Cloud or Tifa that it wouldn't be long.
Tifa's eyes were wet and red, Cloud turned away. He didn't want us to see his face. "We gotta go," he said instead. Tifa followed as they ran up the winding stairs... funny thing. Sometimes you know what you have to do, and you know you have to achieve that goal at all costs. Sometimes there's no time to feel.
I felt really sad right then. What was I? The last Ancient, the last Cetra. Soon there won't be time for us... that is me, either.
Wedge's raspy breathing stopped, it was over. I closed my eyes and folded my hands. O Planet, may his next life show him more gentle fortunes... I stood up. There was nothing more I could do for him.
Now for Marlene, the girl at Tifa's bar.
Running through the slums, I searched for The Seventh Heaven. Like the rest of Lower Midgar, the place was a massive junkyard, swarming with poverty, trash, and darkness lit by meager lamplights.
"We're closed, y'hear?" a shrill young voice screeched.
"Lis'sen.. we dun want no trouble..." a drunk voice sounded. "C'mon lil gal... gimme a drink..."
Turning to the sound, I saw it. A little girl yelling, unafraid, at a full grown drunk sleazy man. "Ack! Marlene!" I cried out.
"We are closed!" The little girl snapped. She couldn't have been more than five. "Go on home, or else!"
"Or else what?" the man said, giving a slimy chuckle, as if he had said the most clever thing in Midgar.
Then Marlene did something that gave me forever respect for her. She lifted a crowbar that was lying in the doorway, jumped on a box and she whacked the man in the head - he was so drunk that he fell unconcious immediatly.
"Marlene!" I ran up to her now, seeing why Tifa and left her in charge. "You have to come with me, Marlene. Shinra's destroying the Sector Seven Pillar! I'll take you somewhere safe!"
"What?" Marlene blinked. She was an adorable girl, even with the crowbar, and now look the incarnation of innocence.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Aeris, a flowergirl." I really felt as though there was no time for this, but after seeing what the girl could do I wouldn't have it any other way. "I was traveling with Tifa and Cloud when we found out about Shinra's plans, and Tifa sent me to come and get you while she tries to stop them."
"Where's Daddy?" she whimpered but didn't cry. I suppose she had become used to this sort of threat in the slums.
"Daddy?" I studied her for a brief moment. The girl looked alot like Tifa... could it be? Would that mean Cloud...? "I don't know..." I wanted to call her an affectionate name, but I wasn't sure if she would trust me. "But we do have to hurry. I promise that I'm not lying."
"Okay. Okay, Aeris, I'm coming," She said it so quietly, so sadly, as if it wasn't worth it to cry, though I did see a trickle of a tear run down her cheek.
I turned around and noticed the unconcious man still lying on the ground. "Oh, Planet," I moaned. I couldn't leave the poor wretch to die like this. "Marlene, you should run ahead," I said uncertainly as I grabbed the man's leg, beginning to pull. "I dunno if I'll make it..." I knew it wasn't safe for a child, but how could I leave this dumb jerk to his doom?
Maybe that did it for winning her trust. She shook her head and said in a voice only a child can muster, "If we work together it will be quicker." She grabbed the other leg and pulled with me.
Dragging the heavy man proved troublesome, but I was so nervous that I found the strength to work quickly. Marlene seemed to think I was angry at her. "It's all my fault!" she cried. "I shouldn't have hit him!"
"No, mate, don't say that!" Almost to Sector 6... just ahead... "He was being stupid, it's his fault. He certainly deserved a whack on the head. He's just lucky there's nice people like us in the world, see?" I said, grinning sheepishly. To be honest, though, I was still depressed. Everything was mounting up.
"D'you think so, Aeris?" Marlene sniffled.
"Of course." I didn't pay much attention to her. I was too busy thinking about Cloud and Tifa. "There!" We reached Sector Six, and let go of the drunk. "I'm sure he'd thank us if he was awake." I said with a slight smile.
I looked back at Sector Seven hoping everyone had gotten safely out. Aside from Marlene and the drunk, I hadn't seen anyone... maybe I should go back and check...
"Please don't leave me!" she whispered.
"What?"
"Don't go back there... I don't want it to fall on you."
I looked at her incredulously. The girl was good at reading emotions. ...Or was that all there was to it? "Well, come with me. I'll take you to my mother's." That reminded me. Trying to change the subject, I decided to try and find out Marlene's heritage. "D'you know Cloud, Marlene?"
"The man with the big sword? I just met him. He's Tifa's friend," she said thoughtfully.
"Oooh." So she probably wasn't Tifa's daughter, nor Cloud's. "Doncha think he's cute?"
"Huh?" Good. I was getting her mind off of the Plate.
"C'mon, a little bit?"
"Oh!" she began to giggle. Excellent. If we ignored any monsters lurking in the junkyard, maybe they'd ignore us. Maybe Marlene wouldn't find out that there was monsters. "I dunno! I'm too young for that stuff!"
"Oh, are ya?" I said playfully, trying to take my mind off of it as well. There was no way that I'd get up there in time anyhow. "D'you think he likes me?"
"I don't know 'bout that, but..." She fumbled in her pockets for a moment, then pulled out a tattered plant. "He gave me a flower!"
The closest thing to a real smile played across my lips. The flower that I sold him..."Well!" I said, putting my hands on my hips comically. "I never liked him anyhow!"
"Hee hee!" She was giggling strongly now. Then she stopped, and said thoughtfully, "But you know, Miss... the flower talks to me!"
"Oh, does it now?" I said, deciding to play the new game. "Is it magic?"
"Yes!"
"Can it tell the future, too? Make it tell mine!" Now almost out of Sector Six... almost out...
"The Planet can't tell the future, silly. But it does tell me stories."
I stopped walking and turned to her, surprised. "Say what?"
"Ohhh..." She blushed as if she had said something very stupid. "I meant I make up stories."
"Ah..." We continued walking, but I couldn't help but wonder if it really was a child's game she was referring to, or... no, she wasn't like me. She wasn't a Cetra, she couldn't feel the Planet, talk to the Planet and be one with the Planet. Could she? Certainly some regular humans are more sensitive to it than others... but what a strange child, this Marlene.
There, the gate of Sector Five.
"Look, Marlene, we've made it!" I said cheerfully. "My house is just up there a ways..."
"Whew!" She sighed comically, obviously forgetting that we were ever in any danger at all.
I grinned at her. "Well then, let's-" I stopped, my eyes widening.
A ShinRa helicopter landed in front of me, the sound ripping through the air. The door opened and Tseng jumped out, wearing his blue Turks uniform, followed by several ShinRa officers. "Hello Aeris," he said in a pleasant voice that made me want to kick him.