THE NEW GAIA
Episode IV: Aeris, the power of the heart Aers Strife, the daughter of Cloud and Tifa, headed on to stop Jenova from reviving, which was already inevitable, the monster eventually returned and it was time for a final showdown with a lone human, but one with a great heart. Aeris met Eiko, a summoner from Madain Sari, who turned her friend, and also admires Aeris very much.
*** Aeris Strife met the Ancient Aeris in the City of the Ancients, where she learned even more about Jenova than she ever expected. Sephiroth could not believe Aeris' power increased so quicky as she transformed for the first time. Aeris said to Aeris Evelyn how important it was to destroy that monster, because if it ever gains an incredible amount of spirit energy collected by the Cetrian part of Gaia it would be indestructible. Aeris left and Aeris Evelyn engaged Jenova and all the people it had infected. She did not want to kill anyone, so after clearing the way she used her ability to fly immediately to go back to Alexandria to prepare for the final battle.
*** Ten days have passed since Aeris Evelyn Strife's first battle with Jenova, but both the girl and the abomination grew stronger in the lapse. The battle began with both Jenova and Aeris just playing around, waiting for the right time to get serious. Eventually both decided to get down to business and end the fight. Jenova tried to attack the other Aeris with a concentrated beam but Tifa interfered and she fell. Dead, who knows, knocked out, definitely. It was then Aeris' great power shined: she grew too angry and that made her unleash all her strength, turning into her final form: an angel, which, in Alexandria, resembles hope, a human illusion that would never vanish. And so the duel Aeris vs Jenova continues in its ultimate conclusion...
*** "I swear to Father, the other Aeris, Sephiroth, my friend Eiko, all the people of Gaia... and especially to Mother... that I will destroy you!" Aeris said.
"You truly think you can defeat me?" Jenova said to the girl.
"It's over, Jenova!!!" Aeris said out.
"Destroy that thing..." Cloud thought, "I love you, Aeris..."
"Come on..." Sephiroth said, "I won't say you'll defeat Jenova, because I want to see you first..."
"Go on, Aeris Evelyn..." Aeris thought, "Avenge your mother... you have all the right to..."
Aeris immediately went in front of Jenova and kicked it in the head, blowing it away to one of the crater's walls, the young girl immediately followed to anticipate the monster's movement. When she reached the place where Jenova ended up, she stopped.
"Grr... so... you are a lot stronger than I thought..." Jenova said, "Still... you are an insignificant being... you are still human..."
"You are nothing but a monster..." Aeris said, "I am wrong... you are worse than a monster... you are nothing less of a virus decided to spread and destroy everyone... and everything..."
"You just called me virus?" Jenova said, "My dear, you clearly do not know, the Ancients were spreading like nuts through the whole universe. I just put an end to that spreading."
"I hate you..." Aeris said.
"What was that!?" Cloud said, still trying to heal Tifa's injury.
"She said, 'I hate you...'" the other Aeris mentioned.
"What's so special about it? Anyone would say that." Sephiroth said.
"She had never said that in her whole life..." Cloud said, "This is the first time I ever hear her say 'I hate you' to someone. She is really furious, this is not just a simple rage she got..."
"I hate you, Jenova..." Aeris said, "I will never forgive you for what you've done... Mother... the Ancients... nothing..."
"Hahahahah! You truly think you can actually stop me?" Jenova said.
"...no question about it..." Aeris bluffed.
"Let's see you stop this then!" Jenova said, "I will destroy this world, and you are coming down with it!!!"
Jenova flew high up to charge a more powerful Shadow Flare than the normal, but Aeris remained static, charging a Holy Light.
"That thing'll destroy everything!" Sephiroth said.
"No..." Cloud said, "Aeris' got it handled."
"Taste this!" Jenova said, "Giant Shadow Flare!!!"
"Is that all you've got?" Aeris thought, "I will show you... Super Holy Light!!!"
As the giant flare fell closer to Aeris, she launched her Super Holy Light, a stronger version of the normal Holy Light she has on her normal and second forms. Both clashed, but the light was more powerful than the flare and Jenova took the whole blow all by itself. It fell to the ground with its body split in two and unconscious.
"You are worthless, Jenova..." Aeris said, "You are nothing..."
Immediately she headed back to her family and friends, who congratulated her, but she looked always at Tifa.
"Forgive me... for not saving you, Mother..." Aeris said, still in her final form.
"You won't go back to your normal self?" Cloud asked.
"I don't feel like it for now... besides... I would have liked Mother to see me like this..." Aeris said, totally removed of all that fury she had, again looking at everyone in a soft, relaxing manner, like the Aeris that she has been for all her life. Unfortunately Jenova used its last breath to make the Whirlwind Maze blow up. Aeris took everyone out of there to just inside the Crater, before reaching Gaea's Cliff, outside the maze's ruins.
"I must get her back... I won't live without her... I refuse..." Aeris said, using a more powerful Full Cure spell on Tifa. Eventually she opened her eyes and loooked at her daughter.
"Aeris..." Tifa said, "Am I... alive...?"
"Yes, Mother..." Aeris said, then she began to cry, "I am so happy to... to look at you alive..."
"You kow your form suits you perfectly...?" Tifa asked her.
"Why do you say that, Mother?" Aeris asked back.
"Because... ever since you were very little... I always called you 'my little angel'... now, many years later... your strongest form... is exactly what you've always been to me... a wonderful angel..." Tifa said.
"Mother... I love you so much..." Aeris said, and hugged Tifa, still crying.
"This is Aeris and Tifa..." Cloud said, "The two girls I live with... and I'm glad to... thanks to them... I never feel alone..."
"How strange to hear you saying that..." Sephiroth said, "Are they really that important to you?"
"I've lived with them for practically 17 years..." Cloud explaind, "Now that I'm used to it... I can't think of ever separating from them..."
"Mother... I've always wondered how I was when I was very little..." Aeris said, "Can you please tell me... now that it's all over?"
"You were so sweet... so cute... and you've been... ever since you were born..." Tifa said, "It's strange that, after so much time alive... you've remained the same... the girl that came to me... when I most needed a reason to be happy... besides your father, of course... I wanted something more... I wanted to be a mother..."
"And so I was born..." Aeris said.
"Exactly... that's why you're here..." Tifa said, "Because Cloud loves me... and because I love him..."
"I got many reasons to love both of you..." Cloud said, while approaching them, "You're everything I have for a family, but I like it this way... because you two are here..."
"Father..." Aeris said, "Can we be sure that thing is gone...?"
"I don't know..." Cloud said, "...no, not again! It's still...!?"
"No! After all I did... it's still here..." Aeris said.
"Now... you can go finish it off..." Tifa said.
"Do you trust me, Mother?" Aeris asked.
"More than ever..." Tifa said, "I'll let you choose what you want to fight for... go on... and Aeris, remember, if your body and mind are no longer useful to battle... always try your heart..."
"My heart..." Aeris said, "Yes... you are right... Now... I will head on..."
"Do it for good this time." Sephiroth said.
"...you have my word..." Aeris said, and went to the maze's ruins.
*** To Aeris' surprise, the Whirlwind Maze turned into simply a circular ground, no longer with so many linear paths or winds to bother move, which were no problem to her either, but all of a sudden, it rained, what no one will ever see in a place so cold. Still, the young girl kept walking forward, until she noticed Jenova, standing still.
"You..." it said, "You have no idea who you decided to mess with, missy..."
"Remember this..." Aeris said, "My name is Aeris Evelyn Strife... I am the daughter of two wonderful people... two people you brought too much pain and suffering..."
"Ah... so you are..." Jenova said, and it looked at Aeris, "No wonder, you are their child... The same eyes as Cloud... and exactly the same face as Tifa..."
"You're a virus that has got to be destroyed before it spreads even more!" Aeris said, "I am here to finish you off!"
"Your name is the same as the Ancient..." Jenova said, "So she is important to them, even in death...? It will be fun destroying you..."
"You won't... because I'll defeat you before you do that!" Aeris said.
"Time to see if the child is even better than the original beings..." Jenova thought, and the battle began.
*** Jenova released all its power this time, knowing that if it kept fighting the way it did previously, Aeris would destroy it with little trouble. Though Aeris' fury had vanished, her powers remained the same, and so Jenova unleashed its omega power. Aeris fought with her all, but this time Jenova was a lot tougher and it hit Aeris quickly, its speed had also increased, Aeris could barely see its moves, until both paused.
"So... you're finally getting serious..." Aeris said.
"Hmph... do you realize the difference there is between both?" Jenova said, "You should just give it up, I will not make you suffer more."
"Though my family is from Cetria, I am from Gaia, and we have one rule: to never give up against anything." Aeris said, "And you know, I like it..."
"So be it..." Jenova said, "I wanted to destroy you peacefully, but you chose to die differently."
"Get on with it!" Aeris said, and attacked Jenova with her all. As the battle continued, Jenova's difference with Aeris was more and more clear, its powers were over Aeris', but the girl would not surrender even if she knew that. Jenova was hurting Aeris terribly, as she was struggling; she landed blows, but they were in a very small amount compared to Jenova's hits.
"So... will you give up?" Jenova asked Aeris, "It is your last chance... Aeris..."
"What should I do...?" Aeris thought, "If I keep up like this, I will just end up dead... What can I do...? Mother...?"
Aeris immediately remembered what Tifa told her before engaging Jenova.
"Don't hesitate... to fight with your heart... if you're not strong enough..." Tifa said, "Fight for whatever you want to fight for... Aeris..."
"What I want to fight for...?" Aeris thought, and she began to remember many moments of her life, "Ever since I was a child, I always wanted to become a great singer... I always sang ... when I was happy, it made me feel even happier, and when I was sad it made me feel better... and I know that my parents want me like that... Eiko wants to be popular... Mother and Father want peace... the other Aeris wants to find the Promised Land... and all those dreams... those wishes... are in my hands... and I am just about to let them go... no... no, I won't let those dreams fade away so soon! I'll fight, and I'll beat Jenova... even if I have to die myself if I have to!"
"What is your choice? Die vaporized or die slowly and painfully...?" Jenova asked.
"I choose..." Aeris said, smiling, "To defeat you, and make everyone's dreams come true!"
"Do you not understand?" Jenova said, "I am too powerful for you. Aeris, do you still think your heart will let you defeat me? Come on, the human heart is weak, because it seeks the veneer of strength, why do you think everyone trusts you?"
"If you think our heart is weak..." Aeris said, "Let me show you how weak it is!!!"
"Very well, then..." Jenova said, "Take your best shot!"
*** Aeris, totally decided to finish Jenova for good with the power of her heart, and Jenova, a monster bound to destroy the world, with only the girl standing in its way, have begun the ultimate battle for the universe's survival. The one standing in the end will determine the fate of all that is life. Jenova started quickly, but Aeris managed to block the blow, to its surprise, and Aeris' power and speed began to increase. The girl attacked quickly, not giving Jenova chance to fight back, and when it did, it hit her, but few times. The battle was filled mostly of clashes between both's fists, and they paused.
"Why is this happening!?" Jenova said, "Why did you suddendly increase your power! Aeris! What are you doing to grow stronger every second!?"
"You really want to know?" Aeris said, "All I am doing is... to trust myself, to trust in my power. Your power's still superior to mine, but the difference is: I have a reason to fight for and you do not, or you just don't know it. That reason... which is right in my heart... is what keeps me fighting you... and that is why I am still here."
"You are just trying to confuse me!" Jenova said, "You think I will believe you? Think again! I know you are using some kind of trick!"
"Yes... I am using a trick..." Aeris said, "That trick is... to believe... to hope..."
"Silence!!!" Jenova said, and attacked Aeris desperately, the girl blocked the blow and counterattacked quickly, being able to hit Jenova. Aeris quickly went on to where it fell just to stop it from doing something else. Jenova managed to hit Aeris several times, and she eventually fell buried on the ground, and her presence was no longer felt.
"Hahahahahahaha!!! That is what you get! That is what anyone who tries to mess with me will get!!!" Jenova said, "Is another human stupid enough to face me!? Come on, I am waiting for you!"
"You don't need another opponent..." Cloud interrupted Jenova's rather quick celebration.
"That is what you think! But I got rid of your daughter... and you are next!" Jenova said.
"Your enemy's alive and well..." Tifa said, "She's in fact, coming out now..."
Indeed, Aeris reappeared from below ground with all of her power, and hit Jenova, making it fall to the ground and it immediately made a flight back to Aeris' location, where their battle resumed. Aeris' family, Sephiroth and the Ancent Aeris went in to see the conclusion of all that was at stake. Though Jenova was still superior to Aeris in strength, the girl's hope never died, and she fought incredibly against a monster stronger than her. Immediately Jenova tried to launch a Meteor Shower but Aeris stopped it with Shield. Aeris just attacked Jenova and the monster got more and more desperate, in the end making a hasty move.
"You... you will never defeat me... I cannot be beaten!" Jenova said, "I am the strongest...!!! No one... no one can defeat me!!!"
"I have..." Aeris said, and hit Jenova in its stomach with all her power, almost splitting the monster in two again, but this time, it fell to the ground in pain and Aeris came down to deliver the final blow.
"No... this is not the end yet..." Jenova said, "I will be back.... and you will not stop me...!"
"How can you come back if there won't be even a small amount of dust left from you?" Aeris said, and charged the Super Holy Light again, with all her powe this time, to make sure Jenova no longer comes back.
"There will be more monsters stronger than me... you will not stop them... mark my words, girl..." Jenova said.
"Then I already know how to defeat them: I will just... believe." Aeris said, now with all her power focused on one single beam, "Super Holy Light..."
The light's starting point was obviously Aeris' right hand, which was only a few feet away from Jenova like two or three, and the blast flew past Jenova, disintegrating it completely, until the beam disappeared as it left Gaia. Aeris returned to her normal form, but she immediately fell unconscious, Cloud took her in arms, hoping that she was alive.
"Aeris! Come on, say something!" he said.
"No... no... just after she saved me..." Tifa said, "She decided... to give her life for her home... I didn't... want her to die yet... I wanted to see her become an adult... reach her 18... my poor girl..."
"Tifa... you should change those tears into happy ones..." Cloud said, with his hand against Aeris' heart, "Her heart's still beating... and her hands are warm..."
"Really?" Tifa said, "Aeris... why do you... why do you scare me like that...? My dear... my dear girl... don't ever scare me like that..."
Aeris was being carried in Cloud's arms as they left with a triumphant 16- year-old, she smiled, because she is happy that she could hear her parents once more. In Lindblum and Alexandria especially, it was a ruckus: both towns were celebrating the victory of their trusted teenager, while Eiko, her friend, was jumping and dancing like crazy due to the victory, Zidane and Dagger prepared to celebrate as soon as Aeris woke up, as she was immediately taken to her room to be taken care of by her parents.
*** Aeris Evelyn Strife woke up to find Cloud and Tifa with her, she could barely open her eyes, but she was happy they were there.
"Aeris..." Tifa said, crying, "You woke up...!"
"We're glad you're still here, Aeris..." Cloud said.
"Thank you... Mother... Father..." Aeris said, smiling, "How much time... has passed...?"
"Only one night..." Tifa said, "Your friend Eiko stopped by to see you, but you were still unconscious. She asked us to say hello for her."
"Eiko... she... I wonder what is she doing right now..." Aeris said.
"She knows you'll have a speech once you're better, so she spent the night here, but she'll be ready." Cloud said.
"I have nothing to say, Father..." Aeris said.
"You do. You must say what you have to say about the peace you brought..." Tifa said.
"Rest up, dear." Cloud said, "Oh! By the way, you'll have a concert right after the speech."
"Really?" Aeris asked.
"Definitely!" Tifa said, "Dagger was able to set everything up, all you need is to pick a song."
"Aunt Dagger..." Aeris said, "She takes care of Jenny and still... keeps up for details..."
"We'll let you take a break, come down when you're ready." Tifa said.
"Got it." Aeris said, and Cloud and Tifa left the room.
*** Aeris went to the overlook of the theater place, where she would have her concert later on. Her speech was exactly the way she likes to say things: softly but directly. She closed up with a very good phrase: "If we ever lost a dear friend... or we gave up on a dream... let us not forget them..." The concert was just about to begin and Aeris changed up clothes: she wore a black mini and a dark-blue blouse, with brown boots. She began specifying why she picked the song, and it was because it mentions how important it is for everyone to remain united through their feelings. That song was called... 1000 Words... THE END
Episode IV: Aeris, the power of the heart Aers Strife, the daughter of Cloud and Tifa, headed on to stop Jenova from reviving, which was already inevitable, the monster eventually returned and it was time for a final showdown with a lone human, but one with a great heart. Aeris met Eiko, a summoner from Madain Sari, who turned her friend, and also admires Aeris very much.
*** Aeris Strife met the Ancient Aeris in the City of the Ancients, where she learned even more about Jenova than she ever expected. Sephiroth could not believe Aeris' power increased so quicky as she transformed for the first time. Aeris said to Aeris Evelyn how important it was to destroy that monster, because if it ever gains an incredible amount of spirit energy collected by the Cetrian part of Gaia it would be indestructible. Aeris left and Aeris Evelyn engaged Jenova and all the people it had infected. She did not want to kill anyone, so after clearing the way she used her ability to fly immediately to go back to Alexandria to prepare for the final battle.
*** Ten days have passed since Aeris Evelyn Strife's first battle with Jenova, but both the girl and the abomination grew stronger in the lapse. The battle began with both Jenova and Aeris just playing around, waiting for the right time to get serious. Eventually both decided to get down to business and end the fight. Jenova tried to attack the other Aeris with a concentrated beam but Tifa interfered and she fell. Dead, who knows, knocked out, definitely. It was then Aeris' great power shined: she grew too angry and that made her unleash all her strength, turning into her final form: an angel, which, in Alexandria, resembles hope, a human illusion that would never vanish. And so the duel Aeris vs Jenova continues in its ultimate conclusion...
*** "I swear to Father, the other Aeris, Sephiroth, my friend Eiko, all the people of Gaia... and especially to Mother... that I will destroy you!" Aeris said.
"You truly think you can defeat me?" Jenova said to the girl.
"It's over, Jenova!!!" Aeris said out.
"Destroy that thing..." Cloud thought, "I love you, Aeris..."
"Come on..." Sephiroth said, "I won't say you'll defeat Jenova, because I want to see you first..."
"Go on, Aeris Evelyn..." Aeris thought, "Avenge your mother... you have all the right to..."
Aeris immediately went in front of Jenova and kicked it in the head, blowing it away to one of the crater's walls, the young girl immediately followed to anticipate the monster's movement. When she reached the place where Jenova ended up, she stopped.
"Grr... so... you are a lot stronger than I thought..." Jenova said, "Still... you are an insignificant being... you are still human..."
"You are nothing but a monster..." Aeris said, "I am wrong... you are worse than a monster... you are nothing less of a virus decided to spread and destroy everyone... and everything..."
"You just called me virus?" Jenova said, "My dear, you clearly do not know, the Ancients were spreading like nuts through the whole universe. I just put an end to that spreading."
"I hate you..." Aeris said.
"What was that!?" Cloud said, still trying to heal Tifa's injury.
"She said, 'I hate you...'" the other Aeris mentioned.
"What's so special about it? Anyone would say that." Sephiroth said.
"She had never said that in her whole life..." Cloud said, "This is the first time I ever hear her say 'I hate you' to someone. She is really furious, this is not just a simple rage she got..."
"I hate you, Jenova..." Aeris said, "I will never forgive you for what you've done... Mother... the Ancients... nothing..."
"Hahahahah! You truly think you can actually stop me?" Jenova said.
"...no question about it..." Aeris bluffed.
"Let's see you stop this then!" Jenova said, "I will destroy this world, and you are coming down with it!!!"
Jenova flew high up to charge a more powerful Shadow Flare than the normal, but Aeris remained static, charging a Holy Light.
"That thing'll destroy everything!" Sephiroth said.
"No..." Cloud said, "Aeris' got it handled."
"Taste this!" Jenova said, "Giant Shadow Flare!!!"
"Is that all you've got?" Aeris thought, "I will show you... Super Holy Light!!!"
As the giant flare fell closer to Aeris, she launched her Super Holy Light, a stronger version of the normal Holy Light she has on her normal and second forms. Both clashed, but the light was more powerful than the flare and Jenova took the whole blow all by itself. It fell to the ground with its body split in two and unconscious.
"You are worthless, Jenova..." Aeris said, "You are nothing..."
Immediately she headed back to her family and friends, who congratulated her, but she looked always at Tifa.
"Forgive me... for not saving you, Mother..." Aeris said, still in her final form.
"You won't go back to your normal self?" Cloud asked.
"I don't feel like it for now... besides... I would have liked Mother to see me like this..." Aeris said, totally removed of all that fury she had, again looking at everyone in a soft, relaxing manner, like the Aeris that she has been for all her life. Unfortunately Jenova used its last breath to make the Whirlwind Maze blow up. Aeris took everyone out of there to just inside the Crater, before reaching Gaea's Cliff, outside the maze's ruins.
"I must get her back... I won't live without her... I refuse..." Aeris said, using a more powerful Full Cure spell on Tifa. Eventually she opened her eyes and loooked at her daughter.
"Aeris..." Tifa said, "Am I... alive...?"
"Yes, Mother..." Aeris said, then she began to cry, "I am so happy to... to look at you alive..."
"You kow your form suits you perfectly...?" Tifa asked her.
"Why do you say that, Mother?" Aeris asked back.
"Because... ever since you were very little... I always called you 'my little angel'... now, many years later... your strongest form... is exactly what you've always been to me... a wonderful angel..." Tifa said.
"Mother... I love you so much..." Aeris said, and hugged Tifa, still crying.
"This is Aeris and Tifa..." Cloud said, "The two girls I live with... and I'm glad to... thanks to them... I never feel alone..."
"How strange to hear you saying that..." Sephiroth said, "Are they really that important to you?"
"I've lived with them for practically 17 years..." Cloud explaind, "Now that I'm used to it... I can't think of ever separating from them..."
"Mother... I've always wondered how I was when I was very little..." Aeris said, "Can you please tell me... now that it's all over?"
"You were so sweet... so cute... and you've been... ever since you were born..." Tifa said, "It's strange that, after so much time alive... you've remained the same... the girl that came to me... when I most needed a reason to be happy... besides your father, of course... I wanted something more... I wanted to be a mother..."
"And so I was born..." Aeris said.
"Exactly... that's why you're here..." Tifa said, "Because Cloud loves me... and because I love him..."
"I got many reasons to love both of you..." Cloud said, while approaching them, "You're everything I have for a family, but I like it this way... because you two are here..."
"Father..." Aeris said, "Can we be sure that thing is gone...?"
"I don't know..." Cloud said, "...no, not again! It's still...!?"
"No! After all I did... it's still here..." Aeris said.
"Now... you can go finish it off..." Tifa said.
"Do you trust me, Mother?" Aeris asked.
"More than ever..." Tifa said, "I'll let you choose what you want to fight for... go on... and Aeris, remember, if your body and mind are no longer useful to battle... always try your heart..."
"My heart..." Aeris said, "Yes... you are right... Now... I will head on..."
"Do it for good this time." Sephiroth said.
"...you have my word..." Aeris said, and went to the maze's ruins.
*** To Aeris' surprise, the Whirlwind Maze turned into simply a circular ground, no longer with so many linear paths or winds to bother move, which were no problem to her either, but all of a sudden, it rained, what no one will ever see in a place so cold. Still, the young girl kept walking forward, until she noticed Jenova, standing still.
"You..." it said, "You have no idea who you decided to mess with, missy..."
"Remember this..." Aeris said, "My name is Aeris Evelyn Strife... I am the daughter of two wonderful people... two people you brought too much pain and suffering..."
"Ah... so you are..." Jenova said, and it looked at Aeris, "No wonder, you are their child... The same eyes as Cloud... and exactly the same face as Tifa..."
"You're a virus that has got to be destroyed before it spreads even more!" Aeris said, "I am here to finish you off!"
"Your name is the same as the Ancient..." Jenova said, "So she is important to them, even in death...? It will be fun destroying you..."
"You won't... because I'll defeat you before you do that!" Aeris said.
"Time to see if the child is even better than the original beings..." Jenova thought, and the battle began.
*** Jenova released all its power this time, knowing that if it kept fighting the way it did previously, Aeris would destroy it with little trouble. Though Aeris' fury had vanished, her powers remained the same, and so Jenova unleashed its omega power. Aeris fought with her all, but this time Jenova was a lot tougher and it hit Aeris quickly, its speed had also increased, Aeris could barely see its moves, until both paused.
"So... you're finally getting serious..." Aeris said.
"Hmph... do you realize the difference there is between both?" Jenova said, "You should just give it up, I will not make you suffer more."
"Though my family is from Cetria, I am from Gaia, and we have one rule: to never give up against anything." Aeris said, "And you know, I like it..."
"So be it..." Jenova said, "I wanted to destroy you peacefully, but you chose to die differently."
"Get on with it!" Aeris said, and attacked Jenova with her all. As the battle continued, Jenova's difference with Aeris was more and more clear, its powers were over Aeris', but the girl would not surrender even if she knew that. Jenova was hurting Aeris terribly, as she was struggling; she landed blows, but they were in a very small amount compared to Jenova's hits.
"So... will you give up?" Jenova asked Aeris, "It is your last chance... Aeris..."
"What should I do...?" Aeris thought, "If I keep up like this, I will just end up dead... What can I do...? Mother...?"
Aeris immediately remembered what Tifa told her before engaging Jenova.
"Don't hesitate... to fight with your heart... if you're not strong enough..." Tifa said, "Fight for whatever you want to fight for... Aeris..."
"What I want to fight for...?" Aeris thought, and she began to remember many moments of her life, "Ever since I was a child, I always wanted to become a great singer... I always sang ... when I was happy, it made me feel even happier, and when I was sad it made me feel better... and I know that my parents want me like that... Eiko wants to be popular... Mother and Father want peace... the other Aeris wants to find the Promised Land... and all those dreams... those wishes... are in my hands... and I am just about to let them go... no... no, I won't let those dreams fade away so soon! I'll fight, and I'll beat Jenova... even if I have to die myself if I have to!"
"What is your choice? Die vaporized or die slowly and painfully...?" Jenova asked.
"I choose..." Aeris said, smiling, "To defeat you, and make everyone's dreams come true!"
"Do you not understand?" Jenova said, "I am too powerful for you. Aeris, do you still think your heart will let you defeat me? Come on, the human heart is weak, because it seeks the veneer of strength, why do you think everyone trusts you?"
"If you think our heart is weak..." Aeris said, "Let me show you how weak it is!!!"
"Very well, then..." Jenova said, "Take your best shot!"
*** Aeris, totally decided to finish Jenova for good with the power of her heart, and Jenova, a monster bound to destroy the world, with only the girl standing in its way, have begun the ultimate battle for the universe's survival. The one standing in the end will determine the fate of all that is life. Jenova started quickly, but Aeris managed to block the blow, to its surprise, and Aeris' power and speed began to increase. The girl attacked quickly, not giving Jenova chance to fight back, and when it did, it hit her, but few times. The battle was filled mostly of clashes between both's fists, and they paused.
"Why is this happening!?" Jenova said, "Why did you suddendly increase your power! Aeris! What are you doing to grow stronger every second!?"
"You really want to know?" Aeris said, "All I am doing is... to trust myself, to trust in my power. Your power's still superior to mine, but the difference is: I have a reason to fight for and you do not, or you just don't know it. That reason... which is right in my heart... is what keeps me fighting you... and that is why I am still here."
"You are just trying to confuse me!" Jenova said, "You think I will believe you? Think again! I know you are using some kind of trick!"
"Yes... I am using a trick..." Aeris said, "That trick is... to believe... to hope..."
"Silence!!!" Jenova said, and attacked Aeris desperately, the girl blocked the blow and counterattacked quickly, being able to hit Jenova. Aeris quickly went on to where it fell just to stop it from doing something else. Jenova managed to hit Aeris several times, and she eventually fell buried on the ground, and her presence was no longer felt.
"Hahahahahahaha!!! That is what you get! That is what anyone who tries to mess with me will get!!!" Jenova said, "Is another human stupid enough to face me!? Come on, I am waiting for you!"
"You don't need another opponent..." Cloud interrupted Jenova's rather quick celebration.
"That is what you think! But I got rid of your daughter... and you are next!" Jenova said.
"Your enemy's alive and well..." Tifa said, "She's in fact, coming out now..."
Indeed, Aeris reappeared from below ground with all of her power, and hit Jenova, making it fall to the ground and it immediately made a flight back to Aeris' location, where their battle resumed. Aeris' family, Sephiroth and the Ancent Aeris went in to see the conclusion of all that was at stake. Though Jenova was still superior to Aeris in strength, the girl's hope never died, and she fought incredibly against a monster stronger than her. Immediately Jenova tried to launch a Meteor Shower but Aeris stopped it with Shield. Aeris just attacked Jenova and the monster got more and more desperate, in the end making a hasty move.
"You... you will never defeat me... I cannot be beaten!" Jenova said, "I am the strongest...!!! No one... no one can defeat me!!!"
"I have..." Aeris said, and hit Jenova in its stomach with all her power, almost splitting the monster in two again, but this time, it fell to the ground in pain and Aeris came down to deliver the final blow.
"No... this is not the end yet..." Jenova said, "I will be back.... and you will not stop me...!"
"How can you come back if there won't be even a small amount of dust left from you?" Aeris said, and charged the Super Holy Light again, with all her powe this time, to make sure Jenova no longer comes back.
"There will be more monsters stronger than me... you will not stop them... mark my words, girl..." Jenova said.
"Then I already know how to defeat them: I will just... believe." Aeris said, now with all her power focused on one single beam, "Super Holy Light..."
The light's starting point was obviously Aeris' right hand, which was only a few feet away from Jenova like two or three, and the blast flew past Jenova, disintegrating it completely, until the beam disappeared as it left Gaia. Aeris returned to her normal form, but she immediately fell unconscious, Cloud took her in arms, hoping that she was alive.
"Aeris! Come on, say something!" he said.
"No... no... just after she saved me..." Tifa said, "She decided... to give her life for her home... I didn't... want her to die yet... I wanted to see her become an adult... reach her 18... my poor girl..."
"Tifa... you should change those tears into happy ones..." Cloud said, with his hand against Aeris' heart, "Her heart's still beating... and her hands are warm..."
"Really?" Tifa said, "Aeris... why do you... why do you scare me like that...? My dear... my dear girl... don't ever scare me like that..."
Aeris was being carried in Cloud's arms as they left with a triumphant 16- year-old, she smiled, because she is happy that she could hear her parents once more. In Lindblum and Alexandria especially, it was a ruckus: both towns were celebrating the victory of their trusted teenager, while Eiko, her friend, was jumping and dancing like crazy due to the victory, Zidane and Dagger prepared to celebrate as soon as Aeris woke up, as she was immediately taken to her room to be taken care of by her parents.
*** Aeris Evelyn Strife woke up to find Cloud and Tifa with her, she could barely open her eyes, but she was happy they were there.
"Aeris..." Tifa said, crying, "You woke up...!"
"We're glad you're still here, Aeris..." Cloud said.
"Thank you... Mother... Father..." Aeris said, smiling, "How much time... has passed...?"
"Only one night..." Tifa said, "Your friend Eiko stopped by to see you, but you were still unconscious. She asked us to say hello for her."
"Eiko... she... I wonder what is she doing right now..." Aeris said.
"She knows you'll have a speech once you're better, so she spent the night here, but she'll be ready." Cloud said.
"I have nothing to say, Father..." Aeris said.
"You do. You must say what you have to say about the peace you brought..." Tifa said.
"Rest up, dear." Cloud said, "Oh! By the way, you'll have a concert right after the speech."
"Really?" Aeris asked.
"Definitely!" Tifa said, "Dagger was able to set everything up, all you need is to pick a song."
"Aunt Dagger..." Aeris said, "She takes care of Jenny and still... keeps up for details..."
"We'll let you take a break, come down when you're ready." Tifa said.
"Got it." Aeris said, and Cloud and Tifa left the room.
*** Aeris went to the overlook of the theater place, where she would have her concert later on. Her speech was exactly the way she likes to say things: softly but directly. She closed up with a very good phrase: "If we ever lost a dear friend... or we gave up on a dream... let us not forget them..." The concert was just about to begin and Aeris changed up clothes: she wore a black mini and a dark-blue blouse, with brown boots. She began specifying why she picked the song, and it was because it mentions how important it is for everyone to remain united through their feelings. That song was called... 1000 Words... THE END