Disclaimer: I own nothing referring to Final Fantasy or other
corporation's material.
Chapter One: Suspended
A dark shadow crept along the alleys of Nibelheim, apparently following the movement in front of it. Around each corner, the shadow's prey continued to elude it, only by the flicker of a cape. Jumping skyward, the shadowy figure perched itself upon the roof of a grand mansion. With eyes red and crimson as blood, and keen as a vulture's, the figure watched its prey enter the desolate and barren yard of the mansion.
As if its bounty were a ghost, it slid in and out of the gates and glided across the yard. Surprised and even more intrigued, the shadow leaped from the roof onto the charred grass below. The ghastly image seemed to pay no heed to his follower. With uncanny skill, the shadow continued to pursue this ghostly figure. Having the agility of a cat, and the stealth of a ninja, it seemed the ghastly apparition did not know it was being followed.
In through the front, cleanly stained oak doors, the figure walked. Across the dried, timber of the floor the shadow continued to chase. Creeping upon the once-grand staircase, the apparition lost its pursuing shadow. Only once did this shadow, meet the gaze of that ghastly image. Only one feature was visible behind the constant cloud of darkness, its face. Glancing into its bizarre emerald eyes, it seemed to trap and hold the shadow's mind. Where had those eyes once before caught the shadow? In a gasp of bewilderment, the shadow remembered.
"...Sephiroth..." the shadow gasped, trying to remain silent.
To the shadow's amazement, the ghastly apparition responded, "...follow..."
Whether being a trap of his mind or this apparition's, the shadow had no choice but to continue its pursuit. Down the right-hand hall walked the two figures, until they reached a room full of books, a bed, and a solid concrete wall. The shadow knew quite well where the apparition was heading. But to what purpose did Sephiroth's ghastly image intend on doing there? The shadow could not figure that one riddle out, even as it continued to perplex his mind.
Silently the concrete wall slid upward revealing an ancient passageway, and without a sound both figures began their descent into the dark depths below. Placing each foot upon the creaking wooden planks leading down to the basement, the shadow could image the last time he saw these stairs. It was only a year ago, when the ever-adventurous Cloud Strife had managed to awaken him. Filled with grief and anger toward his old teammates, the Shinra, he had agreed to fight with Cloud for the sake of the Planet.
While reminiscing about the past, the two had already passed the threshold of the laboratory. Dust littered the entire room; books that had once adorned the walls were still in heaps upon the floor. Old testing equipment littered the right hand corner of the laboratory. Ignoring this "Hell" that was a laboratory, the shadow continued onward toward the office of the late Professor Gast. Walking down the corridor to the office, several books fell from their shelves, nearly hitting the shadow upon the head.
The apparition finally stopped before the only book still resting upon its shelf, upon the side read, The Book of Knowledge. Turning, the apparition sat down in the old recliner of the late professor. Even after thirty years, the lamp in this room still burned brightly. The ghastly image of Sephiroth took on a more physical body as the shadow stepped cautiously into the room. When Sephiroth spoke, his cold voice echoed within his pursuer's mind.
"...I do not have much time, go bring me that book..." Sephiroth's voice seemed urgent.
As the shadow did what he was told, he asked, "Why do you need this old book for?"
Sephiroth did not reply nor seem to have heard him.
"...If you wish to speak to me, you must speak mentally." Sephiroth's voice was beginning to grow dimmer. "...I can not hear mortal tongue; you must communicate with your mind Vincent..."
The cold ghost's voice echoed once more within his mind. "Fine, is this how I should speak?" Vincent asked mentally.
"...that is much better..." Sephiroth spoke as his body twitched.
Feeling better about this whole thing, Vincent brought forth the Book of Knowledge to Sephiroth. But apparently this was not close enough Vincent thought, as Sephiroth's voice continued to echo within his head.
"...Closer, bring the book to the desk, then you must open it..."
Doing as he was told, the book was opened. "What now?"
"...The last page, turn it to the last page, then read..." Sephiroth's voice was even more urgent this time.
Sensing the tone in his voice, Vincent read the final passage in the book.
************************************************************************
As written by Sephiroth, Mortal/Currently last author of the Book of Knowledge.
'It is only three hours until my demise is at hand...
For I have foreseen my death...
And I must say I am not happy...
Jenova was created by the Eternals on accident...
And when she grew too strong, they imprisoned her...
My own demise will be quite the same punishment...
I too have grown strong and my power...
Hah...my mortal power has struck fear in the Eternals...
I will rule, but with the help of one of my enemies...
Or they think that I'm their enemy to be more precise...
My time is limited...
Whosoever has read this, please read the Book...
It shall tell the truth of our birth, and destruction...
Time has passed so swiftly for me...
I must go...'
************************************************************************
"Wha...what is this?" interrogated Vincent.
Now only Sephiroth's face was visible. "I knew about my death and even though I was not ready to die, I did anyways..." The image of Sephiroth began to cough uncontrollably. "...I am here in the lifestream, and soon I will no longer be part, part of the mortal or dead plain, I will be an Eternal..."
Vincent quickly opposed Sephiroth's latest statement. "Nonsense, you are dead and you will never become a 'god', as long as I have a breath in my body!"
Sephiroth's cold laughter rung inside Vincent's mind, "...heh...if you say so, because by the looks of it, you'll be joining me in death soon-very soon..." Once more a fit of coughing took control of Sephiroth's image. "Vincent, you are dying, Chaos and the bio poisoning, they're killing you. They need energy to live and thrive; you will die in three months..."
Vincent no longer wanted to listen to Sephiroth's ill-willed statements. With one quick movement; he desperately shot at the image with the death penalty. "I am not dying!"
The bullet, having no effect on Sephiroth, began to laugh. "Oh...but you are, that bio poisoning makes up more that 50% of your blood now. Oh, and for Chaos its 47%."
"No!" yelled Vincent, "I don't believe a word you say!"
"In three months you will die." Sephiroth was yet again twitching because of another fit of coughing. "...Also in three months, I will be the only; the only Eternal in power..." Sephiroth's image disappeared upon his final warning. "Vincent, they're calling me. I will bring mercy to your soul and you will be given life anew, free of Chaos and sin; all I ask is that you do me a favor, do you accept?"
Whether finally believing him or not, Vincent agreed. "Yes...whatever it takes..."
Sephiroth's last words, ill-willed or not, were intriguing. "...Three months and we'll meet again, one way or another, we will meet amongst the Realm of the Immortals-farewell....................."
When Sephiroth's cold voice dissipated along with his image, Vincent began wondering whether or not anything had ever happened. But when he looked upon the final page of the Book, it read... 'Three months, then shall we see...' Filled with a new burning desire to live and fulfill his agreement, Vincent sat down in front of Professor Gast's desk, and began to read.
Chapter One: Suspended
A dark shadow crept along the alleys of Nibelheim, apparently following the movement in front of it. Around each corner, the shadow's prey continued to elude it, only by the flicker of a cape. Jumping skyward, the shadowy figure perched itself upon the roof of a grand mansion. With eyes red and crimson as blood, and keen as a vulture's, the figure watched its prey enter the desolate and barren yard of the mansion.
As if its bounty were a ghost, it slid in and out of the gates and glided across the yard. Surprised and even more intrigued, the shadow leaped from the roof onto the charred grass below. The ghastly image seemed to pay no heed to his follower. With uncanny skill, the shadow continued to pursue this ghostly figure. Having the agility of a cat, and the stealth of a ninja, it seemed the ghastly apparition did not know it was being followed.
In through the front, cleanly stained oak doors, the figure walked. Across the dried, timber of the floor the shadow continued to chase. Creeping upon the once-grand staircase, the apparition lost its pursuing shadow. Only once did this shadow, meet the gaze of that ghastly image. Only one feature was visible behind the constant cloud of darkness, its face. Glancing into its bizarre emerald eyes, it seemed to trap and hold the shadow's mind. Where had those eyes once before caught the shadow? In a gasp of bewilderment, the shadow remembered.
"...Sephiroth..." the shadow gasped, trying to remain silent.
To the shadow's amazement, the ghastly apparition responded, "...follow..."
Whether being a trap of his mind or this apparition's, the shadow had no choice but to continue its pursuit. Down the right-hand hall walked the two figures, until they reached a room full of books, a bed, and a solid concrete wall. The shadow knew quite well where the apparition was heading. But to what purpose did Sephiroth's ghastly image intend on doing there? The shadow could not figure that one riddle out, even as it continued to perplex his mind.
Silently the concrete wall slid upward revealing an ancient passageway, and without a sound both figures began their descent into the dark depths below. Placing each foot upon the creaking wooden planks leading down to the basement, the shadow could image the last time he saw these stairs. It was only a year ago, when the ever-adventurous Cloud Strife had managed to awaken him. Filled with grief and anger toward his old teammates, the Shinra, he had agreed to fight with Cloud for the sake of the Planet.
While reminiscing about the past, the two had already passed the threshold of the laboratory. Dust littered the entire room; books that had once adorned the walls were still in heaps upon the floor. Old testing equipment littered the right hand corner of the laboratory. Ignoring this "Hell" that was a laboratory, the shadow continued onward toward the office of the late Professor Gast. Walking down the corridor to the office, several books fell from their shelves, nearly hitting the shadow upon the head.
The apparition finally stopped before the only book still resting upon its shelf, upon the side read, The Book of Knowledge. Turning, the apparition sat down in the old recliner of the late professor. Even after thirty years, the lamp in this room still burned brightly. The ghastly image of Sephiroth took on a more physical body as the shadow stepped cautiously into the room. When Sephiroth spoke, his cold voice echoed within his pursuer's mind.
"...I do not have much time, go bring me that book..." Sephiroth's voice seemed urgent.
As the shadow did what he was told, he asked, "Why do you need this old book for?"
Sephiroth did not reply nor seem to have heard him.
"...If you wish to speak to me, you must speak mentally." Sephiroth's voice was beginning to grow dimmer. "...I can not hear mortal tongue; you must communicate with your mind Vincent..."
The cold ghost's voice echoed once more within his mind. "Fine, is this how I should speak?" Vincent asked mentally.
"...that is much better..." Sephiroth spoke as his body twitched.
Feeling better about this whole thing, Vincent brought forth the Book of Knowledge to Sephiroth. But apparently this was not close enough Vincent thought, as Sephiroth's voice continued to echo within his head.
"...Closer, bring the book to the desk, then you must open it..."
Doing as he was told, the book was opened. "What now?"
"...The last page, turn it to the last page, then read..." Sephiroth's voice was even more urgent this time.
Sensing the tone in his voice, Vincent read the final passage in the book.
************************************************************************
As written by Sephiroth, Mortal/Currently last author of the Book of Knowledge.
'It is only three hours until my demise is at hand...
For I have foreseen my death...
And I must say I am not happy...
Jenova was created by the Eternals on accident...
And when she grew too strong, they imprisoned her...
My own demise will be quite the same punishment...
I too have grown strong and my power...
Hah...my mortal power has struck fear in the Eternals...
I will rule, but with the help of one of my enemies...
Or they think that I'm their enemy to be more precise...
My time is limited...
Whosoever has read this, please read the Book...
It shall tell the truth of our birth, and destruction...
Time has passed so swiftly for me...
I must go...'
************************************************************************
"Wha...what is this?" interrogated Vincent.
Now only Sephiroth's face was visible. "I knew about my death and even though I was not ready to die, I did anyways..." The image of Sephiroth began to cough uncontrollably. "...I am here in the lifestream, and soon I will no longer be part, part of the mortal or dead plain, I will be an Eternal..."
Vincent quickly opposed Sephiroth's latest statement. "Nonsense, you are dead and you will never become a 'god', as long as I have a breath in my body!"
Sephiroth's cold laughter rung inside Vincent's mind, "...heh...if you say so, because by the looks of it, you'll be joining me in death soon-very soon..." Once more a fit of coughing took control of Sephiroth's image. "Vincent, you are dying, Chaos and the bio poisoning, they're killing you. They need energy to live and thrive; you will die in three months..."
Vincent no longer wanted to listen to Sephiroth's ill-willed statements. With one quick movement; he desperately shot at the image with the death penalty. "I am not dying!"
The bullet, having no effect on Sephiroth, began to laugh. "Oh...but you are, that bio poisoning makes up more that 50% of your blood now. Oh, and for Chaos its 47%."
"No!" yelled Vincent, "I don't believe a word you say!"
"In three months you will die." Sephiroth was yet again twitching because of another fit of coughing. "...Also in three months, I will be the only; the only Eternal in power..." Sephiroth's image disappeared upon his final warning. "Vincent, they're calling me. I will bring mercy to your soul and you will be given life anew, free of Chaos and sin; all I ask is that you do me a favor, do you accept?"
Whether finally believing him or not, Vincent agreed. "Yes...whatever it takes..."
Sephiroth's last words, ill-willed or not, were intriguing. "...Three months and we'll meet again, one way or another, we will meet amongst the Realm of the Immortals-farewell....................."
When Sephiroth's cold voice dissipated along with his image, Vincent began wondering whether or not anything had ever happened. But when he looked upon the final page of the Book, it read... 'Three months, then shall we see...' Filled with a new burning desire to live and fulfill his agreement, Vincent sat down in front of Professor Gast's desk, and began to read.