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.
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The party entered the silent town. The wind blew softly as if to greet them, but she could only feel slightly anxious at the sight. She turned to her teammates. Lodia was glancing around, taking in the scenery. Avian was kicking at the ground, bored. Ranez has his eyes closed, his gently, quiet breaths barely audible over the howling wind. She snapped her fingers, they glanced at her attentively, and she jerked her head to the nearby inn. They nodded and headed that way. She meant to join them, but stopped as she reached the door. Avian and Lodia entered, but Ranez, sensing her feelings, turned to her.
"Milady?"
She shook her head. "Not like this. We spent too much time in Rocket Town. The world can't know of my existence yet." She turned to walk off, but stopped for a moment. "Tell Lodia to tend to the chocobo, and make sure Avian gets our supplies. I'll be back shortly." He nodded and walked in. Meanwhile she headed over to a nearby clothes shop and walked inside. It was empty, but she could hear the sound of boxes being torn open in the back. Aeris shook her head. This makes it easier.
She gazed at the clothes. Most of it was common day clothing. Almost all of it for the women were dresses. She shook her head ago. It wouldn't do, but it wasn't like she could run to Kalm for clothing. She decided she would have ot make her own clothing. She found a pair of form-fitting shorts that didn't show anything bad, and a tight sleeveless black shirt. She then found a high neck button up long-sleeved white coat, which was so long that the bottom almost touched the floor. She then went to the shoe section, and picked up a pair of black-ankle-cuffed white boots. She went to the accessory department finally to pick up a simple silver belt, black gloves, and, because she was still a woman, a pair of gold earrings. The lady was still working in the back, so she left more than enough gil for her and left. She went next door to a sewing shop, where she bought a pair of scissors, some black and white string, and a needle. She asked to borrow a table to work at, and went to work.
An hour later, she was done. She cropped the bottom of the black shirt so that it came an inch below her chest. The shorts and shoes were left as they were. The jacket however, was cut in two at the waist. The top part was cropped as well, but only half an inch. She removed all of the buttons except for the two at the neck, and from the last button, she made a v cut to her chest, then went straight down for the rest. On the bottom part, she cut the opening a bit back each way so it would flow better, then attached the belt so she could adjust it. Finished, she left the supplies there, no longer needing them, and as she walked out, bowed to the woman, and left. Reaching an ally, she changed putting the gloves and earring on as well. She took out her hair, letting it spill over her shoulder. Finished, she gazed at her old clothing. Then, feeling angered at the sight of it, held her hand out, as a jet of flame was expelled from it, setting the clothes aflame.
She watched it burn, and the anger melted away. She felt like she could cry, but didn't understand what for. She shook her head and left the ally. She reached the inn and went inside, but before she reached the stairs, the man at the desk called out to her.
"Hey!"
She froze, her heart skipped a beat, and she slowly pivoted to look at him.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but you'll have to book a room first."
She sighed in relief. She could remember knowing this man…
Aeris nearly gasped. Something was wrong.
"Ma'am?"
She looked at him, like she had never seen him before, then blinked, brought back to the present.
"Er, my friends are here. They already got us a room." Her voice was croaky.
"Hmmm…" He flipped through a booklet on the desk he sat at. "Oh yes! I'm assuming you are with the two boys and the missus that just came in!"
She nodded.
"Well, I'm sorry ma'am for giving you a hard time. Have a nice night.
She nodded, and started to walk off, when he spoke again.
"Wait.. Haven't I seen you before?"
Aeris didn't move, didn't breath, until she muttered. "No, I've never been here before." Next thing she knew, she was running up the stairs. As she reached her empty room, she ran inside, and slammed the door shut, gasping for breath. But it wasn't the close call that worried her.
What…..what had he said to me before!??!
She strained herself. She had come here with Cloud, seven years ago…
Yes…
And she had stayed in this inn, 7 years ago.
Yes.
And she could recall the horrid smell of smoke and the alcohol in the air…
Yes!
And she had talked to the innkeeper, 7 years ago…
Yes!!!
So why can't I remember the conversation?!
She was beginning to panic, when someone knocked at the door, she turned around and opened it, staring into Avian's green eyes.
"I got your equipment, milady, and what you asked for." E sauntered in, dropping the items on the bed. He turned to see what she was wearing.
"Not bad, I think I'll pick me up something as well." And with that, he headed out.
She walked over to see what he had brought her, her fears drifting away almost instantly. Her eyes first fell upon a silver circlet adorned with a deep emerald in the center. She equipped it, enjoying how it went with her outfit. Next was a pink, shimmering ribbon. She nearly gagged at the color, but it was vital, so she tied it around her wrist. The sleeve of the jacket hid it from view. Next, she picked up the Edin Coat Armlet. She couldn't help but grimace. Cloud and his team would definitely have better equipment, but it was all Rocket Town had. She sighed, and snapped the thin braces onto her wrist.
Finally, she picked up the second-to-last, and most important item. She held two rapier blades, the silver blades spotless, the handles plain, minus the two connected holes inside that were meant for materia. She glanced onto the bed, picking up the green materia. She held it in her hand, trying to remember the feel of it as to remember the type.
Time. This was a time materia. She frowned. It wouldn't be much use, as she couldn't use the power of Life stream anymore. However, it could enhance the weapon.
It would have been better if it was an elemental. A fire materia could give extra damage…. Well, at least it'll give me a speed edge.
She laid the weapons at the foot of the bed, and, without changing, went to sleep.
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"No need to fret, we're here," announced Cloud as he and Zack entered the Conference room. The rest of AVALANCHE, plus Sephiroth, were already inside. Cloud walked to the head of the table, Zack on his left side, Sephiroth between the two, as they were the only ones who could look at him and not flinch, minus Red. Tifa stood on his right, Barret next to her, Red next to him, Yuffie at the other end, Cait next to her, then Vincent.
"Well, now that we're all $&& here, why don't we start out by pulling together what we know, eh?" Stated Cid as he lit his cigarette.
"Yeah, good idea," muttered Barret. He looked at Cloud.
Cloud gazed back before sighing. "Well, we know who our enemy is. It IS Aeris, and we are all going to have to face that…" He paused before continuing. "She is defying the Planet for some reason, of which we don't know why, and she's trying to find something, which we don't know what. She's tried Midgar, Gongaga and Nibelheim, but hasn't found it. Corel has been dried up and cleared out, so all that leaves is the underwater reactor…"
"But, they're heading north! Wouldn't it have been faster to go to the closer ones and work their way up?"
"Unless.." Sephiroth hissed, startling the room save Zack with his voice. He looked up to Cloud, "…They're going to the Crater.."
"Of course!" exclaimed Cloud. "Whatever they're looking for would have to be there! Cid!"
"Already on it!" Shouted Cid as he was out the door.
""Right, the only thing we can do is try and stop them. We should be at Costa Del Sol in thirty minutes, once Cid gives them a head up. It's too late to try and reach the Crater, plus we need rest. We'll head off tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock sharp."
"Is that it?" Yuffie asked. Cloud nodded. "Good!" She grabbed her mouth, turning green as she ran outside. Sighing, the group headed out one by one.
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The wind left burns on Sephiroth's skin, yet it felt inviting to the touch. He closed his eyes, trying to remember the last time he actually enjoyed the fresh smell of the outdoors, yet failing miserably. He could barely remember anything from his time of insanity, and nothing even before that. He sighed, gazing at the water zipping by. No wonder he wasn't a decent example of humanity. He couldn't even decide if he was born or created, let alone remember his childhood.
All I have are visions of scream and cries, of green lights, of splattered blood, of that demon I called Mother… and how I enjoyed it all….
He rested his fore arms on the railing, gazing over the edge. He didn't notice Tifa walk up beside him, looking out as well, but he was too deep in his thoughts to care.
"Can I help you?" He asked meekly, still absorbed in the enveloping darkness of the ocean.
"No." Her voice had an edge to it. She turned to him, her expression a complete opposite, gentle and caring. "But maybe I can help you."
He met her eyes. "The only thing that could help me is something I can't have, as well as something I don't want."
"I don't understand."
He stood upright, his face portraying the emotion in his heart. "I don't deserve to be forgiven for what I am done. Forgiveness won't bring back you father, Cloud's mother, Nibelheim, Midgar…… "
"Is it so hard?" She asked, turning to him.
"How about this? Will you forgive me for burning down your town, killing your father, killing Aeris, and destroying your life?"
"…Yes." But she could even tell that her words betrayed her thoughts.
He leaned against the railing again. "As I said, I don't deserve it."
She paused, lost, then sighed. "Your right. I can't forgive you. I can't even think about it." She looked back over. "But what I can do is give you another chance."
"Chances…. That's all I've been getting," he muttered. "Why is everyone so keen on giving me another chance? What if I try to destroy the Planet again?"
"Because, Sephiroth, you're human. Human's make mistakes. We're nto perfect. So when learn from that mistakes, and the second time, we do it right. We don't get that second chance because we want it, it's because me need it. You're not the same as you were 7 years ago. 7 Years ago you were confused and hurt, and someone came by to take the pain away. That just so happened to be Jenova. If I had been you, I would've done the same thing, and it probably would've been you dealing that final cut with a sword at the Crater."
Sephiroth was stunned, taking it all in. 12 years ago, Tifa had been the eager 15 year old wanting to tour them through the Nibel Mountains. Now, here she was, telling the near-destroyer of the Planet that it was ok, because he was human.
He smiled at that. He WAS human.
"Thank you Tifa. At times I forget I'm not the same as those Jenovains."
She smiled
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Cheez3Bree: Works for me. J
Dark Valentine: Not entirely. And thanks for the comment!
I AM NOT GIVING UP ON THIS FIC!!! IT WILL SURVIVE!!!!!!
Mee hee hee.
K, the couples are as follow:
CloudxAeris
SephirothxTifa Friendship
VincentxTifa
I NEED TO PAIR UP LODIA AND AVIAN!!!! PLEASE GIVE ME IDEAS!!!
If you have a pairing idea, let me know. (even if it has Tifa, I'll still think about it, I'm not sure)
If you have a question, please let me know.