Spoiled Yet Selfless

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy characters are owned by Squaresoft and not by me yadda, yadda, yadda. I you are reading this, then I pity you.

AN: Yeah! Someone likes my story! ^_^ Thanks much Highway Woman! I'll keep writing for you.!

Note to Flamers: I don't mind being critiques, however, if flamed, I dish it back. So think before reviewing.

Now, with that all cleared up, on to the story! ^^'

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Cold.

It's so cold.

It's supposed to be warm.

Or so I'm told.

But when I look inside of me

The only thing I can be.

Is cold.

Hours later…

#The One who is Torn Apart - Xenogears #

Aeris was on the verge of breaking down and crying. The mysterious being had showed her most of her life: the death of her father, her imprisonment at the ShinRa HQ where she was tested on for so many years, a pathetic attempt she made to flee from Hojo, the death of Ifalna, sector 7's destruction, Tseng's murder, Cait Sith's sacrifice, Sephiroth forcing Cloud to beat her, and even her own death. Every moment was just as soundless as before, but like a tape playing in her mind, she heard it all. The cold feeling had become more intense. Both were staring to drive her mad.

Cold.

Why is it so cold?

In my world, the sun no longer shines its gold.

And so I cry.

And hope to die.

Because the world's so cold.

Now does thou understand?

Aeris attempted to force herself to stop shaking, but she only managed it I slightly give. She made herself stand, her legs trembling beneath her. In a croaky voice she replied, "No…. I don't understand any of it. Where am I? Why am I here? Who are you and why are you showing this all to me?"

My Child, I am only hear to aid thou. I've existed for aeons. I hold the information of thy universe. I watch the Planets, which revolve around thy sun. I am everything and nothing. Alpha and Omega. The living and the dead. The beginning and the end. Thou hath been brought here, for thy life was unfair.

Aeris slowly shook her head. She never realized most of her life was mainly tears and survival. "What you are saying seems right," she replied, still shaken. "You speak archaically, and you know of my past…"

I speak only the truth.

"Why though? Why all this? Why help me?"

Doth thou still not understand? Thou hath lived a painful life, with nothing to gain. Thy death was unbeneficed.

"It was my duty," the Cetra nearly shouted, almost in hopelessness. "My duty as a Cetra of the Planet!"

Really… Is that what thou believes as thy purpose? Thy existence? Child, doth thou understand the meaning of the word 'duty'?

Aeris stopped. Inwardly, she gaped. Never before had she felt so confused. What did it truly mean? Was her ultimate sacrifice her real reason for living?

Am I just a tool…? She thought.

Cold.

Damned cold.

Taking my happiness.

I feel so uncontrolled.

The darkening night.

It's freezing grip so tight.

Leaving scars so cold.

An emotion began to burn within her. An emotion she truly never felt before. One of darkness, of pain, of anguish. The thought of what the being said about the Planet caused it to grow. The cold feeling became stronger.

My Child, others before thou have been mistreated by the existence you refer to as the Planet, but none as much as thou. Look onward….

A scene began to take place, one Aeris had never lived through before. She recognized it instantly, however. It was the war between Midgar and Wutai. ShinRa soldiers were purging the town, burning the houses, shooting down the men who were protecting the women as they led the children to safety. A young man begged a soldier to let his girlfriend live in return for is demise. Both were killed in cold blood as the soldier shot them down. Tears began to form in Aeris's eyes as the scene faded off. The feeling of hatred returned.

Cold.

Can't stop the cold.

Ripping me apart.

The searing pain it shan't withhold.

I've no more tears to lose.

I am left so confuse.

Can't refuse this cold.

"I understand.." she whispered, her heart acting like it would explode. "This is what has been happening for all these years…"

Yes, Child. Blood and tears have dripped for so long… Child, there is something thou should know…

Once again, a flash occurred. Aeris had braced herself for it, but when the light dimmed, she blinked at her surroundings. It was the Nibelheim Reactor. She stood at the entrance, confused again. Suddenly, she heard a noise behind, she turned, and saw three men and a girl approach. This must be someone else's memory… she though. But why was she here? The girl looked like Tifa, and the man in all blue must have been a ShinRa soldier. And Zack….. Aeris's eyes dilated. Her heart skipped a beat. She knew he went on a mission before disappearing, but it was confidential, so she never knew where he went before he returned to the planet. She took her eyes off the man to examine the last one, who was dressed in black.

Sephiroth…?

The group of four passed her, and Zack and Sephiroth went in. The soldier stopped Tifa, and forced her to stay outside. Aeris walked up the steps, and went to touch the soldier, who seemed familiar. Her hand passed through him though, and she gasped. It was like she was a ghost. Carefully, she walked around him. As she did, Aeris saw Zack and Sephiroth moving onward. She hastily followed, climbing up a chain. At the top was another door. Entering the room it enclosed, she watched as Sephiroth inspected a pod. Sephiroth and Zack talked, and Zack looked inside the pod. He jumped back in surprise. Another conversation took place. Then, the two young men's attentions turned toward a pod. She glanced at it, and saw it was steaming. The door to it exploded, and something.. No… Some one… fell out, trying to breathe and move. Aeris pulled back in shock. Instantly, she realized this was Hojo's work. Sephiroth slashed at a pod, then left, Zack following. Only Aeris remained, staring at the monster that had once been human. She watched as it died a painful death, one of mako poisoning and suffocation. Her blood froze. The room faded away.

No… There's more, Child…

Aeris's eye squinted when fire suddenly exploded out of the nothingness. As her vision adjusted, she saw that she was in Nibelheim, which was on fire. The soldier from before ran out of the ShinRa mansion and into the town's center to speak with a shopkeeper. Both entered different houses to check for survivors. They returned empty handed, and the young soldier ran toward the Nibel Mountains. Aeris barely managed to keep up, yet soon the managed to reach the reactor. After climbing up the chain, they saw the young Tifa crying over her father.

Wait… Aeris thought. I remember something like this… She had no more time to think, however, due to the fact Tifa had just grabbed a nearby sword and ran inside, the soldier following her. She ran up the stairs with the sword, ready to strike down Sephiroth, who was at the top. However, the sword was too long, and Sephiroth grabbed the handle, and a struggle ensued. Sephiroth one, and slashed Tifa, who went flying down the stairs. Sephiroth laughed and entered the room labeled Jenova. The soldier ran and grabbed Tifa. He laid her near a pod toward the end of a row. Afterward, the soldier ran to another figure, which Aeris didn't notice. It was Zack. Cloud took Zack's Buster sword, and ran in after Sephiroth. Aeris meant to follow, but was drawn toward Zack. She walked toward him, as he rested there dying a painful death. She wanted to comfort him, but reality told her it was just a memory. She remembered Sephiroth, and ran up the stairs. Inside, Sephiroth was wincing in pain, on one knee in front of the soldier. The soldier looked at him in partial sympathy. He turned away and took his hat off. Aeris froze.

…Cloud!?!?!?

There he stood, Cloud Strife. She was in his memory. He left the room, headed down the stairs, and went to tend to Tifa. Aeris followed, too shocked to think of anything else to do. She watched him as he gently held her. Tifa seemed unconscious. Cloud turned sharply to look at Aeris, whose eyes widened. Then she saw that he was not look at her, but at Sephiroth, who was limping down the stairs. In his hand was Jenova's grinning head. Sephiroth headed out the door onto the catwalk. Cloud's face contorted in anger, and he ran after him. Yet, as he went to strike Sephiroth down, the silver-haired monster pulled out his sword, ramming its pointed end into Cloud's chest. His eyes widened in shock and agony, whilst Sephiroth held him into the air. He laughed, and mouthed silent words. However, his look of victory turned into one of surprise. Cloud used his weight to pull himself to the ground, and grabbing the sword's blade with his hand, threw Sephiroth into the green Mako below. Aeris was amazed by his bravery, almost to the point where she didn't run to be by his side when he pulled the sword out, and fell to the ground unconscious, his chest and hands bleeping. She approached him, and knelt by him. More than ever her heart was breaking for him, too the point where she forgot this wasn't real. She closed her eyes, thinking about Cloud's hard past, and what he went through. Yet, how had he survived all this? The ground, which was slightly vibrating, answered her questioned. Trying to stop herself from crying, she looked up to see more ShinRa soldiers running in, and Professor Hojo kneeling by her side, examining the seemingly life-less form of Cloud. Some men ran passed her, and came back with Tifa and Zack, both who were knocked out. Four soldiers, picked up Cloud, and the whole crew left.

Another flash. This time, Aeris was in the ShinRa mansion's underground lab. She looked around. No one else was here. Glancing around the room, she saw the two stasis tubes, one holding Cloud, the other Zack. Aeris figured the village took care of Tifa. A man entered the room with food, probably one of Hojo's underpaid workers. The man sat the food down, and went to open Zack's stasis tube. Upon doing so, Zack jumped out and punched the man. He then opened the other stasis tube, letting Cloud free. Cloud, however, could barely stand, and both Aeris and Zack ran to his side.

Another flash. They were on a truck, and Zack was talking to Cloud, who didn't seem to respond much.

One more flash. It was the outskirts of Midgar. Zack and Cloud were on a cliff edge. Zack was smiling toward Cloud, who was laying on the ground. The smile disappeared when Zack turned. Aeris did as well, and the site of dozens of soldiers astounded her. Zack ran forward, as if he was protecting Cloud, and the soldiers shot him down. Another soldier pointed at Cloud, who did nothing. The soldiers shrugged then walked away. Cloud pulled himself toward Zack, looked at him, and grabbed Zack's sword, holding it high into the air. Then, everything drifted off.

Aeris was alone in the darkness. The cold feeling was so strong. Her heart felt like it would burst. She started to shake, half in shock, half in anguish. She bent over and held her head, as if to make it go away. But the feeling was so strong. It was controlling her, taking her over. She had never felt this way before, not even toward Sephiroth. She was shaking furiously, and her legs felt like jelly. Why wouldn't it stop!?!?!?

The truth, Child, it can hurt so much. Now thou know everything.

She stopped crying. For some reason, she couldn't get the tears to move. She was so angry, a raw hatred boiling up inside of her. She had lost everything to one heavenly body she had trusted her entire life.

Not everything, Child. There exists one life form that thou haven't lost yet.

A dim image of a person began to form, which slowly began to brighten. It was Cloud.

Your time is short, Child. Thy power is infinite. Thy shalt resurrect thou. Take some of my power. Thou shalt need it on thy quest.

Aeris grinned darkly to herself. She was going to get him back.

Yet, she still felt cold.

Cold.

This cold.

I can taste my sanity.

Its story finally unfold.

I'm all alone in this world.

Unholy fate finally unfurled.

As I walk alone.

The devil's taunting tone.

Leaving me cold.

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"I swear, Officer, the catsup made me do it…" I promise, there WILL be a plot. It gets uncovered later. _ Well, for those of you who like it, I write for your enjoyment. ^_^ I hope you like this one. The end was kinda icky, though. Sorry bout that. You can R/R if you'd like, it's only optional. Oh, I'll figure of what the time this is all happening at soon. I can tell you it goes with the game story.