Episode III: Jenova's Plan
Aeris Strife, a 15-year old girl, daughter of Cloud and Tifa
Strife, was regaining the power of the Save the Queen, a
sword that was only used by chosen knights. After recovering
its strength, she was disposed to head towards Midgar to
finish off Kefka, she was scared about the detail that she
would have to destroy her father, but she regained her spirit
and kept on.
Kefka indeed tried to take control of Cloud again, but this time he refused and separated himself from the dark self Kefka could control. Aeris engaged him with all her strength but she would eventually be stopped by her father, who defeated his own self. Aeris then battled Kefka.
The battle was in a great way, and when Kefka had unleashed all his power it all seemed to be lost, but Aeris' great will kept alive, and she fought even stronger than ever, fighting Kefka she eventually won. Now a 16-year-old, Aeris Evelyn Strife is heading on an adventure to destroy the Jenova cells, parasite monsters that made a body after many years of having Cloud and Sephiroth as hosts, and she on to try to stop them...
*** Aeris' new adventure will be taken on by herself, as her parents are no longer capable to handle their incredible power and Alexandria had to be protected; the other Aeris is searching for the Promised Land, which she has always hoped to find, accompained by Sephiroth who, to repay what he did 18 years ago, self-assigned as her guardian. The only one young Aeris has as a partner can be Bahamut, her dragon Eidolon, who helped her out when she needed it.
"Bahamut, where do you think we can find an overgrown parasite?" Aeris asked the dragon.
"That question makes no sense at all." Bahamut answered.
"What do you mean by that? If we don't stop those things..." Aeris said.
"Those things already have monster forms, they can be any type of them, making them hard to find." Bahamut said.
"We still have to try." Aeris said.
"Those cells splitted up into the four continents, so I suggest we do not leave this one until we clean it up." Bahamut said.
"Yes, you're right." Aeris said.
"Wait." Bahamut said, and stopped, "That is a basilisk type serpent below us..."
"Meaning?" Aeris said.
"If you want to defeat a basilisk you have to use your feelings, not your eyesight." Bahamut said.
"What can happen if I see one directly?" Aeris asked.
"A basilisk has the power to kill anyone who sees its yellow eyes." Bahamut answered.
"Now that's something I do not want to suffer..." Aeris said, "Let us go down and destroy it, I have a plan."
"Be extremely careful..." Bahamut said.
*** Bahamut landed and immediately returned to Aeris' crystal. The young girl immediately blinded herself to make the basilisk serpent have to fight her instead of having her to look on its eyes. The Jenova cells have a pressence that can be felt by Cetrians, helping Aeris to know when is the monster going to attack and already knowing her next move.
"This is the first time I'll have to fight blind..." she thought.
The basilisk attacked her at full speed, managing to hit her, she was hurt although not badly; she got up and counterattacked with a slash to the basilisk's head. Her first intention is destroying the monster's sight, making her able to remove the Blind spell she used on herself, but that is too hard, and when she is still an unexperienced fighter this is hard enough.
"Just try me!" Aeris said, and slashed the basilisk again, it counterattacked ramming the young girl, moving towards her afterwards and ready to bite her to kill her with its powerful poison, but Phoenix appeared all of a sudden, probably summoned by someone; the firebird pecked the basilisk's eyes until it left it permanently blind, Phoenix retired afterwards, leaving Aeris, who used Esuna to remove her own Blind spell, to deal with the monster.
"Who summoned her...?" she thought, and returned to the fight. She was running away from the powerful serpent, who had her almost cornered due to its size. Soon Aeris noticed it was not an ordinary monster, and attacked it frontly.
"Come on..." Aeris said, "If you are truly sure of it..."
The basilisk immediately headed towards her, but she moved incredibly fast and was able to escape once again, counterattacking with Blade Beam from a distance. Dealing with a blind serpent was never so hard, and the least for a girl who's capability is infinitely amazing.
"You're not an ordinary basilisk..." Aeris said, "Holy Light!!!"
Aeris attacked the monster and indeed: she was right, it was just some cells, as it appeared after the smoke left by Aeris' attack dissipated. With nothing more to do, she disintegrated the leftovers and was ready to call Bahamut again.
"Those were Jenova cells..." Aeris thought, "Then they are even more powerful than I thought..."
"That was amazing!" a girl, seemingly older than Aeris said, then showed up: she had purple-blue hair, red clothing, wearing jeans and a longsleeve blouse, strangely she also had a horn coming out of her forehead.
"Who are you?" Aeris asked her.
"Allow me to introduce myself..." the girl said, "I'm Eiko, 24 years old. I'm from Madain Sari, just like the queen of Alexandria. I'm the last person that ever lived there."
"Really? I hear there were no inhabitants there." Aeris said, "Anyhow, my name is Aeris Evelyn Strife, 16 years old. I was born in Alexandria, but my family is from Nibelheim. Though my name is Aeris Evelyn, everyone talks to me using only Aeris ever since I can remember."
"You're THE Aeris Strife?" Eiko asked.
"Is there anything special to it?" Aeris said.
"That's the name that the Alexandrians are muffling about so much!" Eiko said.
"Well, as far as I know, I am the only Aeris Evelyn Strife in all of this planet." Aeris said.
"It's a real pleasure to be talking to the girl that brought peace to this world!" Eiko said.
"Peace came only temporarily." Aeris said, "Soon it will be over."
"It won't if we do something about it!" Eiko said.
"'We'? Are you sure you want to come with me?" Aeris asked.
"Of course I do!" Eiko said, "It'd be an honor for me to accompany a heroine!"
"I am not as great as people want to make me seem." Aeris said, "I couldn't have done it without my family."
"Those were your first steps, I've heard. So it is understandable." Eiko said, "But still, you're 16 years old, and everyone already knows you! I'll admit that I've been envying you ever since I knew you were that young. I'm 24 and only the people of Lindblum know me... My friends'll envy me now, they've wanted to know you for so long!"
"It is just something that came out of nowhere." Aeris said, "I never wanted to get what I have because of that battle. It came all of a sudden."
Then came what Aeris did not want to see, another super- monster, this time a Protochimera, a Jenova-infected Chimera Brain, evolved from the already powerful Chimera; it attacked the two girls almost immediately, but both got away fast enough, ready for their upcoming battle.
*** Eiko summoned her most trusted Eidolon: the holy beast Madeen, who was strong, but could not make a difference, Aeris knew she had to fight and that if there was someone to defeat the monster it was her. She immediately attacked the powerful Chimera-type fiend and freed Madeen from quite a mix. Since Eiko's only powers are summoning, she can do very little.
"Great!" Aeris said, "This thing is even stronger than the old basilisk!"
"You should've expected it!" Eiko said, "Madeen, quick! The Terra Homing!"
The Eidolon attacked the Protochimera with the Holy-based hit, but it could do little: the monster just stood still as if nothing ever happened, and it went to keep at Madeen completely, forgetting Aeris completely.
"Madeen!" Eiko said, "Don't worry, I'll get some help!"
The summoner brought in Phoenix but it was worthless: the Protochimera just kept at Madeen after wiping out the firebird, while Aeris stood still, fists closed, about to unleash more power.
"You..." she said, "You'd better... leave that Eidolon alone..."
"What's happening to you, Aeris?" Eiko asked.
"Let Madeen go..." Aeris said, ready to release the new power she got in the last year, "...Leave it alone!!!"
"Aeris?" Eiko said, "Wh-What's... going on... your clothes, they're different...!"
Indeed, Aeris' clothing sure changed: she now wore things that look quite elegant, a blouse of the type with buttons, suitlike jeans, and a black gabardine, everything in a dark color.
"Leave the Eidolon alone..." she said, "You would better leave Madeen alone..."
"Aeris, what happened?" Eiko asked.
The Protochimera attacked Aeris, giving Eiko the time to dismiss her Eidolon. Aeris stood still as the monster approached, and when it tried to slash her, she just moved out of the way and with little trouble she dodged the attack, and she just buried her sword onto the Protochimera's chest, disintegrating it along with the Jenova cells, clearing the Mist Continent completely. Aeris returned to her normal form.
"What happened to me?" she said.
"You got completely furious and all of a sudden, you transformed!" Eiko explained.
"Really? But why?" Aeris asked.
"I don't know. You father's from a Cetrian town, maybe he should." Eiko answered.
"Yes, let us go." Aeris said, then she summoned Bahamut and went back to Alexandria, to clear what just happened to her.
*** The immediate moment they arrived to the castle, Cloud and Tifa were expecting their daughter hoping to hear the cells were wiped out. Indeed, two groups were destroyed, both Cloud's, but Sephiroth's groups of Jenova cells were still free to spread even more.
"This isn't good." Cloud said, "If those things aren't dealt with... I don't want to know what's next..."
"Don't give up, Aeris. We're sure you can deal with those monsters." Tifa said.
"It was not exactly that why I came, in fact..." Aeris said, "When I was fighting an infected monster, I couldn't control my anger anymore and, well..."
"What happened?" Cloud asked.
"She transformed." Eiko answered.
"Really?" Tifa asked.
"Yes. My clothing turned completely dark... I never noticed it myself though." Aeris answered.
"Can it really be?" Tifa said to Cloud.
"Could be, but it's still a mere possibility." He said.
"What are you talking about, Father?" Aeris asked.
"There's a legend about the a warrior that had an unlimited amount of power." Cloud explained, "When I was dead, Aeris talked to me about it. A warrior that was able to seal away Jenova with his incredible strength..."
"Just how tough was he anyway?" Eiko asked..
"I'm not sure, but what she told me, that must've been quite a fighter." Cloud answered, "He had the capability to transform into a superknight, which can mention why Aeris' sudden change."
"Why does the transformation occur anyway?" Aeris asked.
"The strength released is too much for the normal body to handle, thus altering the physical appearance of the person." Cloud answered.
"You heard, Aeris?" Eiko said to Aeris, "If you change, you're practically invincible!"
"There's a catch, though." Cloud said.
"What 'catch'?" Eiko asked.
"If the transformation is used for more time than necessary, the strength of the warrior will completely decrease." Cloud answered.
"Meaning I have to be careful with overusing it, then." Aeris said.
"Exactly." Tifa said, "Go find those things. Destroy them and come back so that we can tell you more about your enemy."
"Yes." Aeris said, and left on Bahamut along with Eiko.
The two girls are on to the Lost Continent, precisely where Sephiroth was at when his cells spreaded. There may be time for them to arrive and destroy the parasites before they make any more harm, but it all seems to go to one thing: Jenova's return is imminent and there is nothing that can be done about it; surely it will come into a form even stronger than the ones Cloud and Tifa faced 18 years ago, thus the super version of Aeris will be important into the victory.
"We've got to find those things." Aeris said.
"Trouble." Eiko said, "There's an angry dragon over there!"
"Time to wipe out the final group of cells!" Aeris said, "Bahamut, over there."
The last group of Jenova cells. An end to the spreading of a monster about to return. The time has come for Aeris to finish off the last remaining parasites and then destroy the source...
*** The battle began quickly and Aeris decided to save up her transformation for later, in an attempt to weaken the beast and then delivering the final blow. Unfortunately her normal form, with all the strength it can hadle, can barely hurt the monster, and Eiko's Eidolons are a nuisance for the infected dragon.
"This cannot be right!" Aeris said, "This group is even stronger!"
"Pick a choice: one, the dragon itself along with the cells are too strong; and two, alll the cells are focused here." Eiko said to her.
"I pick number two." Aeris said, "Try to buy me a few seconds, I'll transform!"
Eiko immediately got away from her friend to distract the Jenova dragon, giving time to Aeris to change into the hidden Cetrian form, but she and her Eidolons were too little work for the dragon and Eiko was injured for the time Aeris was about to unleash all her power; to the degree of making her transform with only 75% of all her strength: she was going to have to unleash it during the battle.
"I have no choice..." Aeris thought, "I hope it works, though..."
The young girl was fighting with all the power she released and it was indeed hard for her to keep up, because this last group of cells was incredibly tough. When the dragon was about to destroy Eiko she unleashed more power and attacked with Holy Light, vanishing the cells and destroying them completely.
"That... was a close one..." Eiko said.
"I am going to help you." Aeris said, and casted Full Cure on her partner.
"May I ask you something?" Eiko said to Aeris.
"Sure, no problem." Aeris said.
"Well, why did you let me join you after you began your journey?" Eiko asked.
"Because I can't do all this by myself." Aeris answered and returned to her normal self, "Besides you're very good on the battlefield."
"I'm glad... that the great Aeris Strife sees me as her friend..." Eiko said.
"There is no reason for me to see you as someone worthless, because you are not." Aeris explained, "You are even stronger than you think, you just have to find that strength, deep in your heart, and release it."
"Thanks." Eiko said.
"No problem. We should go back to Alexandria, Jenova will awaken any minute, and the more we know about it, the better for the final battle. What do you say?" Aeris said.
"Sure!" Eiko said, "If it doesn't bother you."
"Oh, of course not! I'd be glad if you would accompany me!" Aeris said.
"Thanks again." Eiko said.
As both left the continent a figure materialized in the remains of the dragon. There were more cells than just Sephiroth's into that thing, and the monster assumed a female form.
"This time, it'll be you who falls..." it said, "First the Ancient, then this whole planet! It will all be mine!"
Nothing could be worse: Aeris needs to get used to transforming, it takes too much time, Eiko is not strong enough for a battle of this importance, Aeris and Sephiroth's whereabouts are unknown and Cloud and Tifa are no longer powerful enough to destroy the planet's greatest threat. The final battle is about to begin and the coin is rolling in the air... no one knows on what side will it fall...
*** Aeris and Eiko were at Alexandria, where Cloud and Tifa were talking about the Ancients and Jenova, learned from the tapes they found at the home of dead Professor Gast, father of the other Aeris, who is searching for the Promised Land. Jenova is the destructor of the Ancients and who has been manipulating Shinra since a scientist found its body which was sealed over 2000 years beforehand.
"Jenova is the one and only grand threat to every single planet existing; with only unleashing its power, it can turn one into dust." Cloud explained.
"Oh, great..." Aeris said, "I doubt I am powerful enough to destroy it..."
"You are strong enough, Aeris." Tifa said, "You must find that power hidden inside of you and unleash every single part of it."
"What power, Mother?" Aeris said, "I released it all a while ago with the super-chimera!"
"No." Cloud said, "You've got to look even deeper inside of you... there's an even greater amount of strength... Aeris, let that power flow..."
"You're probably right..." Aeris said, "...Yes, you are right... I must keep searching inside myself... I will find an even greater power waiting to awake... It'll be on the right time, I am sure of it."
"That's very poetic." Eiko interrupted.
"You think so?" Aeris said, "We have no time to waste, though. We have to find Jenova."
"Sure." Eiko said, and followed her,
"Mother, Father... I'll come back if something happens." Aeris said before riding Bahamut outside of Alexandria.
*** Aeris was falling from Bahamut's back, but she found out something interesting: she can fly whenever she transforms. Yet, almost immediately she received a message from whom she never imagined: the other Aeris, who accompained her along with her parents a year ago when she defeated Kefka, her first great foe; she immediately agreed and told Bahamut to head outside the meeting place: the City of the Ancients. Aeris also transformed, as it was one of the Ancient's petitions for the meeting.
"Are you sure about this?" Eiko asked.
"Relax, Eiko, she is an old friend." Aeris said, "She and I met last year, while I was with my parents on our last trip together. I haven't seen her since, though."
"Oh, well... if it's you who's saying it's all right, then I have nothing to worry about." Eiko said.
"She said 'in private', Eiko. My apologies, but you'll have to be away." Aeris said, "I will tell you about it after I am done."
"No prob then!" Eiko said.
As the girls and dragon were approaching the City of the Ancients AKA the Forgotten City, Aeris began to have a bad feeling, but never mentioned it to Eiko, just so that she does not get worried. They entered and were greeted by Sephiroth, who was surprised to see Aeris dressed so elegantly (she had trasformed beforehand).
"Hurry, we don't have much time." Sephiroth said to her.
Aeris followed Sephiroth to the center of the city: a small place where there was a big conch shell; the same place where the other Aeris was buried over 18 years ago. It was her who welcomed young Aeris.
"My, you've grown." She said, "Your power has increased quite significantly also. Is that the power that released your form?"
"Could be." Aeris Evelyn said, "I am not sure if it's all I have, because Mother and Father say I have even more hidden strength."
"Believe in their words." Aeris said, "It's true. I can feel an incredible power deep inside of you..."
"What did you exactly wanted to talk about with me?" Aeris Evelyn asked.
"Jenova." Aeris answered.
"I already know much about it." Aeris Evelyn, "Mother and Father told me all they knew."
"I'm sure they don't know the forms they fought Jenova in weren't the only ones." Aeris said.
"They weren't?" Aeris Evelyn immediately asked.
"No. In fact, it has another one: Omega, its true form." Aeris explained, "Omega is the opposite of Alpha. If you haven't read about it, 'Alpha' means 'Beginning' while 'Omega' means 'End'. Before Jenova turned into 'Alpha' it had to go through the four stages where your parents fought it: birth, life, death and synthesis. After Jenova-Synthesis was defeated, came Jenova-Alpha, Beta and Gamma. Now it's trying to regain its lost power of 2000 years to become Jenova-Omega once again."
"It was sealed, correct?" Aeris Evelyn asked.
"Exactly. On the many years it remained like that it began to lose its power significantly, until it became Jenova-Birth, but then a scientist found it and..." Aeris said.
"He released Jenova." Aeris Evelyn said.
"Yes. Since then Jenova used a group of corporators, forming Midgar, Shinra and the Mako Reactors..." Aeris kept explaining, "Them, the soldiers, everything... it was all under Jenova's control..."
"You don't have to keep up if it pains you." Aeris Evelyn said.
"No... I'm all right..." Aeris said, "Your father was a prisoner of Jenova, too."
"But I thought the one manipulating him was Sephiroth!" Aeris Evelyn said.
"On first glance, that's what it seems." Aeris said, "In truth Sephiroth was Jenova's favorite puppet, as he was the one who could get the Black Materia, a sphere with the power to summon Meteor, a mighty magical being."
"But why would Jenova want to destroy this planet?" Aeris Evelyn asked.
"It wasn't to destroy this planet why Jenova used Meteor, but rather to absorb the energy that would gather in the crash site." Aeris answered.
"Yes. My parents told me that their planet was made from spirit energy." Aeris Evelyn said, "And... wait! No wonder why Jenova chose this world! It is the only one with living beings!"
"Exactly! Think how many people, plants and animals die every year." Aeris said, "What would happen if there was an injury that could threaten the very life of the planet?"
"There would be a large amount of spirit energy gathered at the place of the injury, and considering what you mentioned just now..." Aeris Evelyn said.
"There would be enough energy to make Jenova an omnipotent being!" Aeris said.
"But if Jenova reaches its ultimate power..." Aeris Evelyn continued.
"It has no more use for this or any other planet, eventually destroying every single life-form in the universe." Aeris explained.
"I have a plan that just might work." Aeris Evelyn said.
"What kind of plan?" Aeris said.
"It's too risky, but if I grow stronger it will be worth it." Aeris Evelyn explained, "If it can only be defeated in its Omega state, we have to let it regain it."
"What are you saying!? It'll blow this planet apart should that happen!" Aeris said.
"You do not understand." Aeris Evelyn explained, "Right when Jenova recovers its powers I'll fight it, and if we're lucky I might, just might, defeat it, then you will have nothing more to worry about!"
"True. Thanks to Jenova I'm all alone..." Aeris said.
"Why do you say you are alone?" Aeris Evelyn asked, "You do not have Sephiroth or..."
"No, it's not that. I mean there are no more Ancients left..." Aeris said.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to hurt you." Aeris Evelyn said.
"Don't worry, I'm all right..." Aeris said.
"It's time." Sephiroth interrupted.
"I'm going to have to leave you, Aeris Evelyn. Keep growing powerful, then we'll know what to do." Aeris said, and left.
"She seens worried... I don't blame her, with everything that's been going on..." Aeris Evelyn thought.
"Who might you be?" A woman said.
"Who... or what... are you?" Aeris asked to her, noticing something was not right.
"Perceptive, are you not?" the woman said, "I am Jenova, destructor of all that is life."
"No wonder why I felt strange suddendly!" Aeris said, "You... you destroyed many innocent lives!"
"Innocent?" Jenova said, "My, my, don't you humans ever learn? The Ancients are not any innocent people. They are even more than they seem, their power is very impressive, indeed..."
"You do not seem to have regained all your strength..." Aeris said.
"Do not worry, there is not much time left..." Jenova said, "For now, you are dying, girl... whoever you are..."
"Oh, really?" Aeris said.
"You do not think you can take on 50 infected humans, now can you?" Jenova said.
"50, correct?" Aeris said, and looked around her, to know she was completely surrounded.
"You can join my children and make things easy or you can make this place your tomb." Jenova said.
"How about... neither?" Aeris said, and punched Jenova in its stomach, then she was attacked by the infected people.
*** Aeris needed to show much of the power she released in her previous battles, as she was completely cornered. No people put up much resistance, but they were quite strong, up to the matter of forcing Aeris to use the martial arts Tifa taught her some time ago, and all the moves she knows herself. As a consequence, Jenova and its underlings had a hard time with the girl, who just does not give in to the permanent attacks, and instead looked on an open space, and as she landed she was surrounded again. It was then that she realized she had to fly her way out, but she was never allowed to: the attacks were constant. Just when she seemed to get away, Jenova threw her to the conch shell, breaking it, then Aeris looked like she was going to play serious this time: she drew her sword and was prepared to engage all her enemies. As Jenova and its "children" attacked Aeris, the girl slashed every single person that got in her way, she even had the luck to hit Jenova once more.
"More..." it said, and more infected people showed up to its aid, forcing Aeris to do nothing but try to escape; she first had to clear her way though, so she tried once again for an open space, but Jenova stopped her. Aeris released her power and blew every person that was around her, including Jenova. It was then that Aeris flied away from danger.
"That is not an ordinary girl..." Jenova thought, "No wonder why she can do that... but why do her attacks remind me of... two specific people... Hmm, it is all so strange... who is she...?"
*** Eiko and Bahamut joined Aeris in the sky above Gaia, where she told her what the other Aeris told her about, leaving the summoner surprised, and convinced that once again, only Aeris could save the world. Immediately they headed back to Alexandria to report the situation to Cloud and Tifa.
"So Jenova's been busy lately..." Tifa said.
"Yes. The problem is that its power rises with every person it infects." Aeris said.
"Unfortunately, you don't know what it's got in mind." Cloud said.
"What!?" Eiko said.
"It wants to hold some sort of 'tourney' against the best fighters of Gaia." Cloud said.
"Jenova can still contact the ones who had Jenova cells before." Tifa said.
"Then I am sure Sephiroth knows about this..." Aeris said.
"Jenova wants everyone to be there, unfortunately it wants Aeris there also." Tifa said.
"It's up to something..." Aeris said, "If she goes, Jenova will have everything to destroy her... the only thing we can do to protect her is not getting careless even a second."
"For all I know, we have ten days to get everything prepared." Cloud said.
"Where does Jenova want to hold its 'tournament', Father?" Aeris asked.
"It's going to be at the crater in the Lost Continent, on the Whirlwind Maze." Cloud answered.
"It's where it's hiding." Aeris deduced.
"Get to the training, Aeris..." Cloud said, "You have to grow stronger and release that power hidden in you."
"Immediately!" Aeris said, and went to her training hall.
"Um, Mister Strife, do you think it's a good idea to let her fight?" Eiko asked.
"If there's someone who can defeat Jenova, that's her..." Cloud said.
"You look kinda down... something's wrong?" Eiko asked.
"Actually, I never wanted Aeris to get to this..." Cloid answered, "I began to taught her to release the power she has just for her personal defense... I never thought anything would happen again, but... here she is..."
"It's still too hard for me to see her bleeding for the world she was born at..." Tifa said.
"We'd better get prepared, too, Tifa." Cloud said, "Remember who Aeris is up against, if we can do something to help her, let's do it."
"I'm with you." Tifa said, and both went with Aeris to the training hall.
*** Aeris' objective in these ten days is releasing all the power she has deep within her, with the hope it transcends Jenova's; she has much time to unleash her full, but it can be a tiring route to the fight, where she will have the weight of the planet in her hands. Eiko is not participating, so she takes things lightly, Cloud and Tifa are waiting for the day to come, though they will have nothing to do against their old enemy.
"I am so tired..." Aeris said.
"Get some rest." Tifa said, "It won't do you good to keep at it for much time."
"We do need a break too, you know." Cloud said.
"Probably it will be good for me..." Aeris said, and left to her room.
Eiko saw her very tired so she kept anything she had to say to herself.
"What do you think, Tifa?" Cloud asked his spouse.
"Her powers are amazing..." Tifa answered, "But Jenova's power is incredible... I still don't know if Aeris' real power will be enough to destroy that thing..."
"I'm not too sure either." Cloud said, "In fact, I want to believe that she can do it, but she only knows Jenova for what she's been told. She hasn't actually seen Jenova on the battlefield and into its ultimate form."
"We've only seen up to its synthesis stage too." Tifa said, "We don't know much about its 'omega' form either."
"I know that Aeris can defeat Jenova." Cloud said.
"Or maybe... we just hope she can..." Tifa said.
"You're right, but what else can we do?" Cloud said, "We won't be able to even harm that monster even if we combine our forces."
"Let's just wait the week left for the battle." Tifa said.
"Yes. I agree with you." Cloud said, "Maybe she wants to see the world before the moment of truth. It wouldn't hurt her either."
"You know, if she sees that everyone is with her, maybe she'll feel motivated and well, she'll know her people are supporting her..." Tifa said.
"Tomorrow we'll tell her. Maybe she'll want to." Cloud said, and they went to sleep.
*** The next morning Cloud and Tifa told Aeris what they wanted to do in the week before: take her around the world for her duel with Jenova. They want Aeris to spend the next few days with Eiko and that she feels less overworked due to her training. Aeris remained transformed and her parents liked the idea, but what for? The transformation needs a certain amount of power, but only the Strife family know everything there is to it.
"Why do you stay in that form?" Eiko asked Aeris.
"It's something that came up all of a sudden. It seems this way my body can get used to a bigger amount of power..." Aeris said, "I still don't know what is this for, but I do feel well this way."
"You know, I'd really like to be more like you." Eiko said.
"Why do you say that?" Aeris asked.
"It's just that... ever since I was a little girl..." Eiko said, "I've always wanted to be somebody, I... wanted to be remembered for doing something... and then I suddendly hear 'Say, did you hear? There's this Alexandrian girl that's got a super amount of strength!' 'Oh, really? They say she doesn't look like much too!' Then I thought.... 'Who's that girl that's been in the talk all year long?' I thought you were going to be an all talk person, but..."
"Your journey was just to meet me...?" Aeris asked.
"Yes. I wanted to meet that girl that was the world talk, and when I met you, you were the complete opposite of whom I thought..." Eiko answered, "I imagined a girl that would be always talking about herself, and the way that she came up to be known... an all talk, to be brief. But when I talked to you for the first time, I was very surprised. You weren't the person I thought, you even allowed me to be your friend."
"A friend is worth even more than fame." Aeris said, "No one looks at me the same way they used to anymore, but you... you're different, you do look at me as a person, not as a high-ranked girl, which I do not like to be called."
"Why not? You earned it. You're quite young and you are so powerful..." Eiko said.
"It's just that... I feel so uncomfortable... I mean, when I was 14, no one looked at me the way they do now..." Aeris said, "They said 'Look, there's the girl with those weird eyes' and such. I got so used to it... I mean, I am glad that they respect me, but sometimes they even fear me and I don't like that."
"I... never knew that..." Eiko said.
"The change was too strange for me."Aeris said, "I remember that, when I was a little girl, Father and Mother took me to Daguerreo, I think. When we entered, everyone kept staring at me, and they called me 'strange'. I don't know why, but now, I know they were right."
"It's all up to you." Eiko said, "It all depends on your behavior towards things. For example, I am a wannabe in all forms, and everyone looks at me like that. That's why I'd like to be like you."
"Eiko, you don't have to be like me in order to be popular." Aeris said, "In fact, popularity is something you do not need to be someone. You just have to be yourself. You're better off as the Eiko that's accompanied me all this time."
"Thanks." Eiko said.
"You're very welcome." Aeris said.
Aeris felt strange after the talk with her friend, however it was that which Cloud and Tifa wanted: that she spends some time with Eiko to go around the world and move looking ahead to the final battle.
*** Four days later Aeris returned alone to Alexandria, as it was Eiko's petition to stay in Lindblum, as the fight will be watched in the auditorium there, and also on Alexandria's. Aeris spent her days having fun with her parents and waiting patiently, but looking at the present time, for her grand moment.
And finally, the day has arrived. As it was Jenova's demands, Cloud, Tifa, Aeris, Sephiroth and the other Aeris showed up in the Whirlwind Maze, the same place where the meteor containing Jenova fell 2000 years ago.
"Oh... Cloud... Tifa... Sephiroth... the Ancient... and of course, that girl..." Jenova thought, "They all came... I thought they would leave the Ancient somewhere and show up all of a sudden..."
"Go ahead, Aeris." Cloud said, "Don't worry, we'll be here."
"Remember: don't give up! You're strong enough to beat that monster!" Tifa said.
"Yes... I know not what will happen, but I'll do whatever I can..." Aeris said.
"She is the first to go down..." Jenova said, "Comfortable. That way Cloud will be the last and fun will be there... heheheh... I'll make this girl discover fear first!"
Aeris stood in position, ready for the start, and with all her mind and body focused on winning this fight, which will obviously be even harder than anything she has faced...
*** The battle started, though neither Aeris nor Jenova started seriously. They just fought and took this as a simple training, not anything to the trascendance of this showdown. Aeris was disposed to fight to the end, but after seeing that Jenova was just playing around she decided to join in. Their full power will not be revealed for the time being it seems.
"Why isn't she fighting seriously!?" Sephiroth said, "Does she think this is a game or what!?"
"Jenova's not doing anything for the battle, either..." Tifa said, "Aeris just seems to feel sort of strange because Jenova's not fighting well."
"Jenova's overconfident." Cloud said, "This is its game after all. Aeris just felt like playing along and this is what we get."
What are they thinking...?" the other Aeris thought, "They're just fighting like kids... why, I wonder? Is Jenova really that confident?"
As the battle kept up, Jenova used a Shadow Flare, but fairly easy to avoid for young Aeris, who countered with a regular Flare, which was also easy for Jenova. It was then both stopped their attacks and took a break.
"You are not half bad..." Jenova said, "But still, you are not being serious..."
"Neither are you." Aeris responded, "You were just playing around, so I decided to play too."
"So you noticed... You are far more perceptive than I thought..." Jenova said, "You will be a good opponent... before I destroy this world..."
"You are a terrible monster...!" Aeris said, "I won't allow you to do any more harm to this or other planet! You will fall!"
"You are full of nothing but fantasies..." Jenova said, "You might be lucky, however. Because you'll be dead sooner than you can imagine..."
Aeris immediately made her guard position, knowing Jenova would strike first, but she did not let it arrive and moved out of the way, counterattacking quickly. Jenova received the blow and realized its opponent is stronger than it ever thought, what Aeris did at the City of the Ancients was nothing. Aeris immediately reacted and kept hitting Jenova with all her power, but it was still not enough to eliminate the monster; Aeris quickly realized that she must fight to the end with Jenova, and not give it any chance, but if it wants her to get tired, who knows if Aeris will notice.
"You see?" Cloud said, "Now they're getting serious."
"Come on, Aeris, don't let that monster defeat you! You must keep at it with everything you've got!" Tifa said.
"Tifa's getting too excited, isn't she?" Sephiroth commented.
"Whenever Aeris does something important, she gets excited." Cloud explained, "I understand because, I mean, knowing Tifa, because she celebrates all the things Aeris learns."
"Is Aeris Evelyn really that special for them?" Aeris thought, "Who am I kidding, I should know, she's their daughter."
Jenova was hitting Aeris, but she defended greatly, as if she already had years with serious fights, and she attacked wonderfully also. Aeris' power exceeded the limits Jenova expected, and it eventually noticed.
"So... you really were not just talking senselessly..." Jenova said, "Whoever trained you must be exceptionally good... but I already had enough of this..."
"What are you doing!?" Aeris said, "Wh... what do you think you're...!?"
"See you in hell... final Ancient..." Jenova said, pointing at the other Aeris.
"Aeris, watch out!" Tifa said, and as Jenova fired, she got in the beam's way, which was still small, but enough to do terrible damage, and what it planned for the other Aeris, it happened to Tifa, while young Aeris watched this tragedy."
"No... no... no, why did this happen!?" Aeris said, holding her mother, "Why did... why did this happen to you... M..."
"What?" Jenova interrupted, "What were you going to say?"
"Tifa, no!" Cloud said, "You didn't have to end this way... no, no It's all my fault! If I'd known Jenova wanted to do this to Aeris, I would've never brought her..."
"No, Cloud, it's not your fault..." the other Aeris interrupted him, "It's my fault because I agreed to come, I should've known what Jenova had planned... I... I'm really sorry..."
"You don't have to apologize..." Cloud said, "Tifa... Tifa always wanted to... to help out others... and she did to the very end..."
Aeris could no longer take it and she cried.
"No!!! I refuse to accept this!!!" she said, "I refuse to not have you around anymore!!!"
"What makes her so special to you?" Jenova asked the blonde-haired girl.
"You..." Aeris said, and, still crying, she turned to Jenova, "You had no reason to kill her!"
"She was never my meant target, it was the Ancient, but she preferred to have her fate." Jenova said.
"You are the worst monster that I have ever known..." Aeris said, still dropping tears, "I swear... I swear... I swear... in the name of Mother... that I am going to destroy you... and put an end to this...!!!"
"Your mother?" Jenova said, "What are you talking about?"
"You... you took her away from me... and I will never forgive you for that..." Aeris said, and clearly she could no longer control her fury: her clothing began to change once more, from the dark style she had, to a white, but she took off the gabardine.
"Aeris... Aeris what's happening?" Sephiroth said.
"Jenova just dug its own tomb..." Cloud said, smiling, "It's provoked Aeris... now nothing will be able to stop her..."
"What!? You mean she's transforming again!?" Sephiroth said.
"Exactly." Cloud said, "Tifa's always been everything to Aeris. They love each other very much, and you know, when I see them talking, they always cheer me up because... because they're both just so sweet..."
"You're dead..." the other Aeris thought, "Jenova... you've just commited suicide..."
"I will... I will never forgive you..." Aeris said, ready to release her full power, "Never!!!"
Aeris' clothing style kept the formal style, but this time she wore a blouse, shorts and boots totally white, and when everyone thought her transformation was complete with her cloting, two angel wings came out of her back, and she immediately unleashed everything she had, and the Aeris of the laughs and sweet look Cloud described changed to an exact opposite: an Aeris filled of anger and a terrible look filled of nothing but hate.
"What!? Is... is that... an angel...!?" Sephiroth said.
"It's Aeris' final form..." Cloud said, "Her power is totally at max now... Although she turned into an angel... I know all she wants is to destroy Jenova and leave no trace left of it..."
"I swear to Father, Sephiroth, the other Aeris, my friend Eiko, all the people of this planet... and especially to Mother... that I will defeat you!" Aeris said.
"You truly think you can defeat me?" Jenova said.
"It's over, Jenova!!!" Aeris said out.
The battle will resume with Aeris totally empowered to deal with her declared archenemy: the almighty Jenova. Will her rage and desire for revenge be enough to defeat the power colossus? TO BE CONTINUED
Kefka indeed tried to take control of Cloud again, but this time he refused and separated himself from the dark self Kefka could control. Aeris engaged him with all her strength but she would eventually be stopped by her father, who defeated his own self. Aeris then battled Kefka.
The battle was in a great way, and when Kefka had unleashed all his power it all seemed to be lost, but Aeris' great will kept alive, and she fought even stronger than ever, fighting Kefka she eventually won. Now a 16-year-old, Aeris Evelyn Strife is heading on an adventure to destroy the Jenova cells, parasite monsters that made a body after many years of having Cloud and Sephiroth as hosts, and she on to try to stop them...
*** Aeris' new adventure will be taken on by herself, as her parents are no longer capable to handle their incredible power and Alexandria had to be protected; the other Aeris is searching for the Promised Land, which she has always hoped to find, accompained by Sephiroth who, to repay what he did 18 years ago, self-assigned as her guardian. The only one young Aeris has as a partner can be Bahamut, her dragon Eidolon, who helped her out when she needed it.
"Bahamut, where do you think we can find an overgrown parasite?" Aeris asked the dragon.
"That question makes no sense at all." Bahamut answered.
"What do you mean by that? If we don't stop those things..." Aeris said.
"Those things already have monster forms, they can be any type of them, making them hard to find." Bahamut said.
"We still have to try." Aeris said.
"Those cells splitted up into the four continents, so I suggest we do not leave this one until we clean it up." Bahamut said.
"Yes, you're right." Aeris said.
"Wait." Bahamut said, and stopped, "That is a basilisk type serpent below us..."
"Meaning?" Aeris said.
"If you want to defeat a basilisk you have to use your feelings, not your eyesight." Bahamut said.
"What can happen if I see one directly?" Aeris asked.
"A basilisk has the power to kill anyone who sees its yellow eyes." Bahamut answered.
"Now that's something I do not want to suffer..." Aeris said, "Let us go down and destroy it, I have a plan."
"Be extremely careful..." Bahamut said.
*** Bahamut landed and immediately returned to Aeris' crystal. The young girl immediately blinded herself to make the basilisk serpent have to fight her instead of having her to look on its eyes. The Jenova cells have a pressence that can be felt by Cetrians, helping Aeris to know when is the monster going to attack and already knowing her next move.
"This is the first time I'll have to fight blind..." she thought.
The basilisk attacked her at full speed, managing to hit her, she was hurt although not badly; she got up and counterattacked with a slash to the basilisk's head. Her first intention is destroying the monster's sight, making her able to remove the Blind spell she used on herself, but that is too hard, and when she is still an unexperienced fighter this is hard enough.
"Just try me!" Aeris said, and slashed the basilisk again, it counterattacked ramming the young girl, moving towards her afterwards and ready to bite her to kill her with its powerful poison, but Phoenix appeared all of a sudden, probably summoned by someone; the firebird pecked the basilisk's eyes until it left it permanently blind, Phoenix retired afterwards, leaving Aeris, who used Esuna to remove her own Blind spell, to deal with the monster.
"Who summoned her...?" she thought, and returned to the fight. She was running away from the powerful serpent, who had her almost cornered due to its size. Soon Aeris noticed it was not an ordinary monster, and attacked it frontly.
"Come on..." Aeris said, "If you are truly sure of it..."
The basilisk immediately headed towards her, but she moved incredibly fast and was able to escape once again, counterattacking with Blade Beam from a distance. Dealing with a blind serpent was never so hard, and the least for a girl who's capability is infinitely amazing.
"You're not an ordinary basilisk..." Aeris said, "Holy Light!!!"
Aeris attacked the monster and indeed: she was right, it was just some cells, as it appeared after the smoke left by Aeris' attack dissipated. With nothing more to do, she disintegrated the leftovers and was ready to call Bahamut again.
"Those were Jenova cells..." Aeris thought, "Then they are even more powerful than I thought..."
"That was amazing!" a girl, seemingly older than Aeris said, then showed up: she had purple-blue hair, red clothing, wearing jeans and a longsleeve blouse, strangely she also had a horn coming out of her forehead.
"Who are you?" Aeris asked her.
"Allow me to introduce myself..." the girl said, "I'm Eiko, 24 years old. I'm from Madain Sari, just like the queen of Alexandria. I'm the last person that ever lived there."
"Really? I hear there were no inhabitants there." Aeris said, "Anyhow, my name is Aeris Evelyn Strife, 16 years old. I was born in Alexandria, but my family is from Nibelheim. Though my name is Aeris Evelyn, everyone talks to me using only Aeris ever since I can remember."
"You're THE Aeris Strife?" Eiko asked.
"Is there anything special to it?" Aeris said.
"That's the name that the Alexandrians are muffling about so much!" Eiko said.
"Well, as far as I know, I am the only Aeris Evelyn Strife in all of this planet." Aeris said.
"It's a real pleasure to be talking to the girl that brought peace to this world!" Eiko said.
"Peace came only temporarily." Aeris said, "Soon it will be over."
"It won't if we do something about it!" Eiko said.
"'We'? Are you sure you want to come with me?" Aeris asked.
"Of course I do!" Eiko said, "It'd be an honor for me to accompany a heroine!"
"I am not as great as people want to make me seem." Aeris said, "I couldn't have done it without my family."
"Those were your first steps, I've heard. So it is understandable." Eiko said, "But still, you're 16 years old, and everyone already knows you! I'll admit that I've been envying you ever since I knew you were that young. I'm 24 and only the people of Lindblum know me... My friends'll envy me now, they've wanted to know you for so long!"
"It is just something that came out of nowhere." Aeris said, "I never wanted to get what I have because of that battle. It came all of a sudden."
Then came what Aeris did not want to see, another super- monster, this time a Protochimera, a Jenova-infected Chimera Brain, evolved from the already powerful Chimera; it attacked the two girls almost immediately, but both got away fast enough, ready for their upcoming battle.
*** Eiko summoned her most trusted Eidolon: the holy beast Madeen, who was strong, but could not make a difference, Aeris knew she had to fight and that if there was someone to defeat the monster it was her. She immediately attacked the powerful Chimera-type fiend and freed Madeen from quite a mix. Since Eiko's only powers are summoning, she can do very little.
"Great!" Aeris said, "This thing is even stronger than the old basilisk!"
"You should've expected it!" Eiko said, "Madeen, quick! The Terra Homing!"
The Eidolon attacked the Protochimera with the Holy-based hit, but it could do little: the monster just stood still as if nothing ever happened, and it went to keep at Madeen completely, forgetting Aeris completely.
"Madeen!" Eiko said, "Don't worry, I'll get some help!"
The summoner brought in Phoenix but it was worthless: the Protochimera just kept at Madeen after wiping out the firebird, while Aeris stood still, fists closed, about to unleash more power.
"You..." she said, "You'd better... leave that Eidolon alone..."
"What's happening to you, Aeris?" Eiko asked.
"Let Madeen go..." Aeris said, ready to release the new power she got in the last year, "...Leave it alone!!!"
"Aeris?" Eiko said, "Wh-What's... going on... your clothes, they're different...!"
Indeed, Aeris' clothing sure changed: she now wore things that look quite elegant, a blouse of the type with buttons, suitlike jeans, and a black gabardine, everything in a dark color.
"Leave the Eidolon alone..." she said, "You would better leave Madeen alone..."
"Aeris, what happened?" Eiko asked.
The Protochimera attacked Aeris, giving Eiko the time to dismiss her Eidolon. Aeris stood still as the monster approached, and when it tried to slash her, she just moved out of the way and with little trouble she dodged the attack, and she just buried her sword onto the Protochimera's chest, disintegrating it along with the Jenova cells, clearing the Mist Continent completely. Aeris returned to her normal form.
"What happened to me?" she said.
"You got completely furious and all of a sudden, you transformed!" Eiko explained.
"Really? But why?" Aeris asked.
"I don't know. You father's from a Cetrian town, maybe he should." Eiko answered.
"Yes, let us go." Aeris said, then she summoned Bahamut and went back to Alexandria, to clear what just happened to her.
*** The immediate moment they arrived to the castle, Cloud and Tifa were expecting their daughter hoping to hear the cells were wiped out. Indeed, two groups were destroyed, both Cloud's, but Sephiroth's groups of Jenova cells were still free to spread even more.
"This isn't good." Cloud said, "If those things aren't dealt with... I don't want to know what's next..."
"Don't give up, Aeris. We're sure you can deal with those monsters." Tifa said.
"It was not exactly that why I came, in fact..." Aeris said, "When I was fighting an infected monster, I couldn't control my anger anymore and, well..."
"What happened?" Cloud asked.
"She transformed." Eiko answered.
"Really?" Tifa asked.
"Yes. My clothing turned completely dark... I never noticed it myself though." Aeris answered.
"Can it really be?" Tifa said to Cloud.
"Could be, but it's still a mere possibility." He said.
"What are you talking about, Father?" Aeris asked.
"There's a legend about the a warrior that had an unlimited amount of power." Cloud explained, "When I was dead, Aeris talked to me about it. A warrior that was able to seal away Jenova with his incredible strength..."
"Just how tough was he anyway?" Eiko asked..
"I'm not sure, but what she told me, that must've been quite a fighter." Cloud answered, "He had the capability to transform into a superknight, which can mention why Aeris' sudden change."
"Why does the transformation occur anyway?" Aeris asked.
"The strength released is too much for the normal body to handle, thus altering the physical appearance of the person." Cloud answered.
"You heard, Aeris?" Eiko said to Aeris, "If you change, you're practically invincible!"
"There's a catch, though." Cloud said.
"What 'catch'?" Eiko asked.
"If the transformation is used for more time than necessary, the strength of the warrior will completely decrease." Cloud answered.
"Meaning I have to be careful with overusing it, then." Aeris said.
"Exactly." Tifa said, "Go find those things. Destroy them and come back so that we can tell you more about your enemy."
"Yes." Aeris said, and left on Bahamut along with Eiko.
The two girls are on to the Lost Continent, precisely where Sephiroth was at when his cells spreaded. There may be time for them to arrive and destroy the parasites before they make any more harm, but it all seems to go to one thing: Jenova's return is imminent and there is nothing that can be done about it; surely it will come into a form even stronger than the ones Cloud and Tifa faced 18 years ago, thus the super version of Aeris will be important into the victory.
"We've got to find those things." Aeris said.
"Trouble." Eiko said, "There's an angry dragon over there!"
"Time to wipe out the final group of cells!" Aeris said, "Bahamut, over there."
The last group of Jenova cells. An end to the spreading of a monster about to return. The time has come for Aeris to finish off the last remaining parasites and then destroy the source...
*** The battle began quickly and Aeris decided to save up her transformation for later, in an attempt to weaken the beast and then delivering the final blow. Unfortunately her normal form, with all the strength it can hadle, can barely hurt the monster, and Eiko's Eidolons are a nuisance for the infected dragon.
"This cannot be right!" Aeris said, "This group is even stronger!"
"Pick a choice: one, the dragon itself along with the cells are too strong; and two, alll the cells are focused here." Eiko said to her.
"I pick number two." Aeris said, "Try to buy me a few seconds, I'll transform!"
Eiko immediately got away from her friend to distract the Jenova dragon, giving time to Aeris to change into the hidden Cetrian form, but she and her Eidolons were too little work for the dragon and Eiko was injured for the time Aeris was about to unleash all her power; to the degree of making her transform with only 75% of all her strength: she was going to have to unleash it during the battle.
"I have no choice..." Aeris thought, "I hope it works, though..."
The young girl was fighting with all the power she released and it was indeed hard for her to keep up, because this last group of cells was incredibly tough. When the dragon was about to destroy Eiko she unleashed more power and attacked with Holy Light, vanishing the cells and destroying them completely.
"That... was a close one..." Eiko said.
"I am going to help you." Aeris said, and casted Full Cure on her partner.
"May I ask you something?" Eiko said to Aeris.
"Sure, no problem." Aeris said.
"Well, why did you let me join you after you began your journey?" Eiko asked.
"Because I can't do all this by myself." Aeris answered and returned to her normal self, "Besides you're very good on the battlefield."
"I'm glad... that the great Aeris Strife sees me as her friend..." Eiko said.
"There is no reason for me to see you as someone worthless, because you are not." Aeris explained, "You are even stronger than you think, you just have to find that strength, deep in your heart, and release it."
"Thanks." Eiko said.
"No problem. We should go back to Alexandria, Jenova will awaken any minute, and the more we know about it, the better for the final battle. What do you say?" Aeris said.
"Sure!" Eiko said, "If it doesn't bother you."
"Oh, of course not! I'd be glad if you would accompany me!" Aeris said.
"Thanks again." Eiko said.
As both left the continent a figure materialized in the remains of the dragon. There were more cells than just Sephiroth's into that thing, and the monster assumed a female form.
"This time, it'll be you who falls..." it said, "First the Ancient, then this whole planet! It will all be mine!"
Nothing could be worse: Aeris needs to get used to transforming, it takes too much time, Eiko is not strong enough for a battle of this importance, Aeris and Sephiroth's whereabouts are unknown and Cloud and Tifa are no longer powerful enough to destroy the planet's greatest threat. The final battle is about to begin and the coin is rolling in the air... no one knows on what side will it fall...
*** Aeris and Eiko were at Alexandria, where Cloud and Tifa were talking about the Ancients and Jenova, learned from the tapes they found at the home of dead Professor Gast, father of the other Aeris, who is searching for the Promised Land. Jenova is the destructor of the Ancients and who has been manipulating Shinra since a scientist found its body which was sealed over 2000 years beforehand.
"Jenova is the one and only grand threat to every single planet existing; with only unleashing its power, it can turn one into dust." Cloud explained.
"Oh, great..." Aeris said, "I doubt I am powerful enough to destroy it..."
"You are strong enough, Aeris." Tifa said, "You must find that power hidden inside of you and unleash every single part of it."
"What power, Mother?" Aeris said, "I released it all a while ago with the super-chimera!"
"No." Cloud said, "You've got to look even deeper inside of you... there's an even greater amount of strength... Aeris, let that power flow..."
"You're probably right..." Aeris said, "...Yes, you are right... I must keep searching inside myself... I will find an even greater power waiting to awake... It'll be on the right time, I am sure of it."
"That's very poetic." Eiko interrupted.
"You think so?" Aeris said, "We have no time to waste, though. We have to find Jenova."
"Sure." Eiko said, and followed her,
"Mother, Father... I'll come back if something happens." Aeris said before riding Bahamut outside of Alexandria.
*** Aeris was falling from Bahamut's back, but she found out something interesting: she can fly whenever she transforms. Yet, almost immediately she received a message from whom she never imagined: the other Aeris, who accompained her along with her parents a year ago when she defeated Kefka, her first great foe; she immediately agreed and told Bahamut to head outside the meeting place: the City of the Ancients. Aeris also transformed, as it was one of the Ancient's petitions for the meeting.
"Are you sure about this?" Eiko asked.
"Relax, Eiko, she is an old friend." Aeris said, "She and I met last year, while I was with my parents on our last trip together. I haven't seen her since, though."
"Oh, well... if it's you who's saying it's all right, then I have nothing to worry about." Eiko said.
"She said 'in private', Eiko. My apologies, but you'll have to be away." Aeris said, "I will tell you about it after I am done."
"No prob then!" Eiko said.
As the girls and dragon were approaching the City of the Ancients AKA the Forgotten City, Aeris began to have a bad feeling, but never mentioned it to Eiko, just so that she does not get worried. They entered and were greeted by Sephiroth, who was surprised to see Aeris dressed so elegantly (she had trasformed beforehand).
"Hurry, we don't have much time." Sephiroth said to her.
Aeris followed Sephiroth to the center of the city: a small place where there was a big conch shell; the same place where the other Aeris was buried over 18 years ago. It was her who welcomed young Aeris.
"My, you've grown." She said, "Your power has increased quite significantly also. Is that the power that released your form?"
"Could be." Aeris Evelyn said, "I am not sure if it's all I have, because Mother and Father say I have even more hidden strength."
"Believe in their words." Aeris said, "It's true. I can feel an incredible power deep inside of you..."
"What did you exactly wanted to talk about with me?" Aeris Evelyn asked.
"Jenova." Aeris answered.
"I already know much about it." Aeris Evelyn, "Mother and Father told me all they knew."
"I'm sure they don't know the forms they fought Jenova in weren't the only ones." Aeris said.
"They weren't?" Aeris Evelyn immediately asked.
"No. In fact, it has another one: Omega, its true form." Aeris explained, "Omega is the opposite of Alpha. If you haven't read about it, 'Alpha' means 'Beginning' while 'Omega' means 'End'. Before Jenova turned into 'Alpha' it had to go through the four stages where your parents fought it: birth, life, death and synthesis. After Jenova-Synthesis was defeated, came Jenova-Alpha, Beta and Gamma. Now it's trying to regain its lost power of 2000 years to become Jenova-Omega once again."
"It was sealed, correct?" Aeris Evelyn asked.
"Exactly. On the many years it remained like that it began to lose its power significantly, until it became Jenova-Birth, but then a scientist found it and..." Aeris said.
"He released Jenova." Aeris Evelyn said.
"Yes. Since then Jenova used a group of corporators, forming Midgar, Shinra and the Mako Reactors..." Aeris kept explaining, "Them, the soldiers, everything... it was all under Jenova's control..."
"You don't have to keep up if it pains you." Aeris Evelyn said.
"No... I'm all right..." Aeris said, "Your father was a prisoner of Jenova, too."
"But I thought the one manipulating him was Sephiroth!" Aeris Evelyn said.
"On first glance, that's what it seems." Aeris said, "In truth Sephiroth was Jenova's favorite puppet, as he was the one who could get the Black Materia, a sphere with the power to summon Meteor, a mighty magical being."
"But why would Jenova want to destroy this planet?" Aeris Evelyn asked.
"It wasn't to destroy this planet why Jenova used Meteor, but rather to absorb the energy that would gather in the crash site." Aeris answered.
"Yes. My parents told me that their planet was made from spirit energy." Aeris Evelyn said, "And... wait! No wonder why Jenova chose this world! It is the only one with living beings!"
"Exactly! Think how many people, plants and animals die every year." Aeris said, "What would happen if there was an injury that could threaten the very life of the planet?"
"There would be a large amount of spirit energy gathered at the place of the injury, and considering what you mentioned just now..." Aeris Evelyn said.
"There would be enough energy to make Jenova an omnipotent being!" Aeris said.
"But if Jenova reaches its ultimate power..." Aeris Evelyn continued.
"It has no more use for this or any other planet, eventually destroying every single life-form in the universe." Aeris explained.
"I have a plan that just might work." Aeris Evelyn said.
"What kind of plan?" Aeris said.
"It's too risky, but if I grow stronger it will be worth it." Aeris Evelyn explained, "If it can only be defeated in its Omega state, we have to let it regain it."
"What are you saying!? It'll blow this planet apart should that happen!" Aeris said.
"You do not understand." Aeris Evelyn explained, "Right when Jenova recovers its powers I'll fight it, and if we're lucky I might, just might, defeat it, then you will have nothing more to worry about!"
"True. Thanks to Jenova I'm all alone..." Aeris said.
"Why do you say you are alone?" Aeris Evelyn asked, "You do not have Sephiroth or..."
"No, it's not that. I mean there are no more Ancients left..." Aeris said.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to hurt you." Aeris Evelyn said.
"Don't worry, I'm all right..." Aeris said.
"It's time." Sephiroth interrupted.
"I'm going to have to leave you, Aeris Evelyn. Keep growing powerful, then we'll know what to do." Aeris said, and left.
"She seens worried... I don't blame her, with everything that's been going on..." Aeris Evelyn thought.
"Who might you be?" A woman said.
"Who... or what... are you?" Aeris asked to her, noticing something was not right.
"Perceptive, are you not?" the woman said, "I am Jenova, destructor of all that is life."
"No wonder why I felt strange suddendly!" Aeris said, "You... you destroyed many innocent lives!"
"Innocent?" Jenova said, "My, my, don't you humans ever learn? The Ancients are not any innocent people. They are even more than they seem, their power is very impressive, indeed..."
"You do not seem to have regained all your strength..." Aeris said.
"Do not worry, there is not much time left..." Jenova said, "For now, you are dying, girl... whoever you are..."
"Oh, really?" Aeris said.
"You do not think you can take on 50 infected humans, now can you?" Jenova said.
"50, correct?" Aeris said, and looked around her, to know she was completely surrounded.
"You can join my children and make things easy or you can make this place your tomb." Jenova said.
"How about... neither?" Aeris said, and punched Jenova in its stomach, then she was attacked by the infected people.
*** Aeris needed to show much of the power she released in her previous battles, as she was completely cornered. No people put up much resistance, but they were quite strong, up to the matter of forcing Aeris to use the martial arts Tifa taught her some time ago, and all the moves she knows herself. As a consequence, Jenova and its underlings had a hard time with the girl, who just does not give in to the permanent attacks, and instead looked on an open space, and as she landed she was surrounded again. It was then that she realized she had to fly her way out, but she was never allowed to: the attacks were constant. Just when she seemed to get away, Jenova threw her to the conch shell, breaking it, then Aeris looked like she was going to play serious this time: she drew her sword and was prepared to engage all her enemies. As Jenova and its "children" attacked Aeris, the girl slashed every single person that got in her way, she even had the luck to hit Jenova once more.
"More..." it said, and more infected people showed up to its aid, forcing Aeris to do nothing but try to escape; she first had to clear her way though, so she tried once again for an open space, but Jenova stopped her. Aeris released her power and blew every person that was around her, including Jenova. It was then that Aeris flied away from danger.
"That is not an ordinary girl..." Jenova thought, "No wonder why she can do that... but why do her attacks remind me of... two specific people... Hmm, it is all so strange... who is she...?"
*** Eiko and Bahamut joined Aeris in the sky above Gaia, where she told her what the other Aeris told her about, leaving the summoner surprised, and convinced that once again, only Aeris could save the world. Immediately they headed back to Alexandria to report the situation to Cloud and Tifa.
"So Jenova's been busy lately..." Tifa said.
"Yes. The problem is that its power rises with every person it infects." Aeris said.
"Unfortunately, you don't know what it's got in mind." Cloud said.
"What!?" Eiko said.
"It wants to hold some sort of 'tourney' against the best fighters of Gaia." Cloud said.
"Jenova can still contact the ones who had Jenova cells before." Tifa said.
"Then I am sure Sephiroth knows about this..." Aeris said.
"Jenova wants everyone to be there, unfortunately it wants Aeris there also." Tifa said.
"It's up to something..." Aeris said, "If she goes, Jenova will have everything to destroy her... the only thing we can do to protect her is not getting careless even a second."
"For all I know, we have ten days to get everything prepared." Cloud said.
"Where does Jenova want to hold its 'tournament', Father?" Aeris asked.
"It's going to be at the crater in the Lost Continent, on the Whirlwind Maze." Cloud answered.
"It's where it's hiding." Aeris deduced.
"Get to the training, Aeris..." Cloud said, "You have to grow stronger and release that power hidden in you."
"Immediately!" Aeris said, and went to her training hall.
"Um, Mister Strife, do you think it's a good idea to let her fight?" Eiko asked.
"If there's someone who can defeat Jenova, that's her..." Cloud said.
"You look kinda down... something's wrong?" Eiko asked.
"Actually, I never wanted Aeris to get to this..." Cloid answered, "I began to taught her to release the power she has just for her personal defense... I never thought anything would happen again, but... here she is..."
"It's still too hard for me to see her bleeding for the world she was born at..." Tifa said.
"We'd better get prepared, too, Tifa." Cloud said, "Remember who Aeris is up against, if we can do something to help her, let's do it."
"I'm with you." Tifa said, and both went with Aeris to the training hall.
*** Aeris' objective in these ten days is releasing all the power she has deep within her, with the hope it transcends Jenova's; she has much time to unleash her full, but it can be a tiring route to the fight, where she will have the weight of the planet in her hands. Eiko is not participating, so she takes things lightly, Cloud and Tifa are waiting for the day to come, though they will have nothing to do against their old enemy.
"I am so tired..." Aeris said.
"Get some rest." Tifa said, "It won't do you good to keep at it for much time."
"We do need a break too, you know." Cloud said.
"Probably it will be good for me..." Aeris said, and left to her room.
Eiko saw her very tired so she kept anything she had to say to herself.
"What do you think, Tifa?" Cloud asked his spouse.
"Her powers are amazing..." Tifa answered, "But Jenova's power is incredible... I still don't know if Aeris' real power will be enough to destroy that thing..."
"I'm not too sure either." Cloud said, "In fact, I want to believe that she can do it, but she only knows Jenova for what she's been told. She hasn't actually seen Jenova on the battlefield and into its ultimate form."
"We've only seen up to its synthesis stage too." Tifa said, "We don't know much about its 'omega' form either."
"I know that Aeris can defeat Jenova." Cloud said.
"Or maybe... we just hope she can..." Tifa said.
"You're right, but what else can we do?" Cloud said, "We won't be able to even harm that monster even if we combine our forces."
"Let's just wait the week left for the battle." Tifa said.
"Yes. I agree with you." Cloud said, "Maybe she wants to see the world before the moment of truth. It wouldn't hurt her either."
"You know, if she sees that everyone is with her, maybe she'll feel motivated and well, she'll know her people are supporting her..." Tifa said.
"Tomorrow we'll tell her. Maybe she'll want to." Cloud said, and they went to sleep.
*** The next morning Cloud and Tifa told Aeris what they wanted to do in the week before: take her around the world for her duel with Jenova. They want Aeris to spend the next few days with Eiko and that she feels less overworked due to her training. Aeris remained transformed and her parents liked the idea, but what for? The transformation needs a certain amount of power, but only the Strife family know everything there is to it.
"Why do you stay in that form?" Eiko asked Aeris.
"It's something that came up all of a sudden. It seems this way my body can get used to a bigger amount of power..." Aeris said, "I still don't know what is this for, but I do feel well this way."
"You know, I'd really like to be more like you." Eiko said.
"Why do you say that?" Aeris asked.
"It's just that... ever since I was a little girl..." Eiko said, "I've always wanted to be somebody, I... wanted to be remembered for doing something... and then I suddendly hear 'Say, did you hear? There's this Alexandrian girl that's got a super amount of strength!' 'Oh, really? They say she doesn't look like much too!' Then I thought.... 'Who's that girl that's been in the talk all year long?' I thought you were going to be an all talk person, but..."
"Your journey was just to meet me...?" Aeris asked.
"Yes. I wanted to meet that girl that was the world talk, and when I met you, you were the complete opposite of whom I thought..." Eiko answered, "I imagined a girl that would be always talking about herself, and the way that she came up to be known... an all talk, to be brief. But when I talked to you for the first time, I was very surprised. You weren't the person I thought, you even allowed me to be your friend."
"A friend is worth even more than fame." Aeris said, "No one looks at me the same way they used to anymore, but you... you're different, you do look at me as a person, not as a high-ranked girl, which I do not like to be called."
"Why not? You earned it. You're quite young and you are so powerful..." Eiko said.
"It's just that... I feel so uncomfortable... I mean, when I was 14, no one looked at me the way they do now..." Aeris said, "They said 'Look, there's the girl with those weird eyes' and such. I got so used to it... I mean, I am glad that they respect me, but sometimes they even fear me and I don't like that."
"I... never knew that..." Eiko said.
"The change was too strange for me."Aeris said, "I remember that, when I was a little girl, Father and Mother took me to Daguerreo, I think. When we entered, everyone kept staring at me, and they called me 'strange'. I don't know why, but now, I know they were right."
"It's all up to you." Eiko said, "It all depends on your behavior towards things. For example, I am a wannabe in all forms, and everyone looks at me like that. That's why I'd like to be like you."
"Eiko, you don't have to be like me in order to be popular." Aeris said, "In fact, popularity is something you do not need to be someone. You just have to be yourself. You're better off as the Eiko that's accompanied me all this time."
"Thanks." Eiko said.
"You're very welcome." Aeris said.
Aeris felt strange after the talk with her friend, however it was that which Cloud and Tifa wanted: that she spends some time with Eiko to go around the world and move looking ahead to the final battle.
*** Four days later Aeris returned alone to Alexandria, as it was Eiko's petition to stay in Lindblum, as the fight will be watched in the auditorium there, and also on Alexandria's. Aeris spent her days having fun with her parents and waiting patiently, but looking at the present time, for her grand moment.
And finally, the day has arrived. As it was Jenova's demands, Cloud, Tifa, Aeris, Sephiroth and the other Aeris showed up in the Whirlwind Maze, the same place where the meteor containing Jenova fell 2000 years ago.
"Oh... Cloud... Tifa... Sephiroth... the Ancient... and of course, that girl..." Jenova thought, "They all came... I thought they would leave the Ancient somewhere and show up all of a sudden..."
"Go ahead, Aeris." Cloud said, "Don't worry, we'll be here."
"Remember: don't give up! You're strong enough to beat that monster!" Tifa said.
"Yes... I know not what will happen, but I'll do whatever I can..." Aeris said.
"She is the first to go down..." Jenova said, "Comfortable. That way Cloud will be the last and fun will be there... heheheh... I'll make this girl discover fear first!"
Aeris stood in position, ready for the start, and with all her mind and body focused on winning this fight, which will obviously be even harder than anything she has faced...
*** The battle started, though neither Aeris nor Jenova started seriously. They just fought and took this as a simple training, not anything to the trascendance of this showdown. Aeris was disposed to fight to the end, but after seeing that Jenova was just playing around she decided to join in. Their full power will not be revealed for the time being it seems.
"Why isn't she fighting seriously!?" Sephiroth said, "Does she think this is a game or what!?"
"Jenova's not doing anything for the battle, either..." Tifa said, "Aeris just seems to feel sort of strange because Jenova's not fighting well."
"Jenova's overconfident." Cloud said, "This is its game after all. Aeris just felt like playing along and this is what we get."
What are they thinking...?" the other Aeris thought, "They're just fighting like kids... why, I wonder? Is Jenova really that confident?"
As the battle kept up, Jenova used a Shadow Flare, but fairly easy to avoid for young Aeris, who countered with a regular Flare, which was also easy for Jenova. It was then both stopped their attacks and took a break.
"You are not half bad..." Jenova said, "But still, you are not being serious..."
"Neither are you." Aeris responded, "You were just playing around, so I decided to play too."
"So you noticed... You are far more perceptive than I thought..." Jenova said, "You will be a good opponent... before I destroy this world..."
"You are a terrible monster...!" Aeris said, "I won't allow you to do any more harm to this or other planet! You will fall!"
"You are full of nothing but fantasies..." Jenova said, "You might be lucky, however. Because you'll be dead sooner than you can imagine..."
Aeris immediately made her guard position, knowing Jenova would strike first, but she did not let it arrive and moved out of the way, counterattacking quickly. Jenova received the blow and realized its opponent is stronger than it ever thought, what Aeris did at the City of the Ancients was nothing. Aeris immediately reacted and kept hitting Jenova with all her power, but it was still not enough to eliminate the monster; Aeris quickly realized that she must fight to the end with Jenova, and not give it any chance, but if it wants her to get tired, who knows if Aeris will notice.
"You see?" Cloud said, "Now they're getting serious."
"Come on, Aeris, don't let that monster defeat you! You must keep at it with everything you've got!" Tifa said.
"Tifa's getting too excited, isn't she?" Sephiroth commented.
"Whenever Aeris does something important, she gets excited." Cloud explained, "I understand because, I mean, knowing Tifa, because she celebrates all the things Aeris learns."
"Is Aeris Evelyn really that special for them?" Aeris thought, "Who am I kidding, I should know, she's their daughter."
Jenova was hitting Aeris, but she defended greatly, as if she already had years with serious fights, and she attacked wonderfully also. Aeris' power exceeded the limits Jenova expected, and it eventually noticed.
"So... you really were not just talking senselessly..." Jenova said, "Whoever trained you must be exceptionally good... but I already had enough of this..."
"What are you doing!?" Aeris said, "Wh... what do you think you're...!?"
"See you in hell... final Ancient..." Jenova said, pointing at the other Aeris.
"Aeris, watch out!" Tifa said, and as Jenova fired, she got in the beam's way, which was still small, but enough to do terrible damage, and what it planned for the other Aeris, it happened to Tifa, while young Aeris watched this tragedy."
"No... no... no, why did this happen!?" Aeris said, holding her mother, "Why did... why did this happen to you... M..."
"What?" Jenova interrupted, "What were you going to say?"
"Tifa, no!" Cloud said, "You didn't have to end this way... no, no It's all my fault! If I'd known Jenova wanted to do this to Aeris, I would've never brought her..."
"No, Cloud, it's not your fault..." the other Aeris interrupted him, "It's my fault because I agreed to come, I should've known what Jenova had planned... I... I'm really sorry..."
"You don't have to apologize..." Cloud said, "Tifa... Tifa always wanted to... to help out others... and she did to the very end..."
Aeris could no longer take it and she cried.
"No!!! I refuse to accept this!!!" she said, "I refuse to not have you around anymore!!!"
"What makes her so special to you?" Jenova asked the blonde-haired girl.
"You..." Aeris said, and, still crying, she turned to Jenova, "You had no reason to kill her!"
"She was never my meant target, it was the Ancient, but she preferred to have her fate." Jenova said.
"You are the worst monster that I have ever known..." Aeris said, still dropping tears, "I swear... I swear... I swear... in the name of Mother... that I am going to destroy you... and put an end to this...!!!"
"Your mother?" Jenova said, "What are you talking about?"
"You... you took her away from me... and I will never forgive you for that..." Aeris said, and clearly she could no longer control her fury: her clothing began to change once more, from the dark style she had, to a white, but she took off the gabardine.
"Aeris... Aeris what's happening?" Sephiroth said.
"Jenova just dug its own tomb..." Cloud said, smiling, "It's provoked Aeris... now nothing will be able to stop her..."
"What!? You mean she's transforming again!?" Sephiroth said.
"Exactly." Cloud said, "Tifa's always been everything to Aeris. They love each other very much, and you know, when I see them talking, they always cheer me up because... because they're both just so sweet..."
"You're dead..." the other Aeris thought, "Jenova... you've just commited suicide..."
"I will... I will never forgive you..." Aeris said, ready to release her full power, "Never!!!"
Aeris' clothing style kept the formal style, but this time she wore a blouse, shorts and boots totally white, and when everyone thought her transformation was complete with her cloting, two angel wings came out of her back, and she immediately unleashed everything she had, and the Aeris of the laughs and sweet look Cloud described changed to an exact opposite: an Aeris filled of anger and a terrible look filled of nothing but hate.
"What!? Is... is that... an angel...!?" Sephiroth said.
"It's Aeris' final form..." Cloud said, "Her power is totally at max now... Although she turned into an angel... I know all she wants is to destroy Jenova and leave no trace left of it..."
"I swear to Father, Sephiroth, the other Aeris, my friend Eiko, all the people of this planet... and especially to Mother... that I will defeat you!" Aeris said.
"You truly think you can defeat me?" Jenova said.
"It's over, Jenova!!!" Aeris said out.
The battle will resume with Aeris totally empowered to deal with her declared archenemy: the almighty Jenova. Will her rage and desire for revenge be enough to defeat the power colossus? TO BE CONTINUED