9. Angels Crying
Aeris closed her eyes hard as the chocobo made it's way down a steep hill, the waves of the ocean crashing against the rocks peering up at them from the darkness of the water.
Trying to desperately think about something else besides the possibility of disappearing under the cold ocean, Aeris hid her face against Sephiroths silver hair. It was yesterday they had left the Chocobo Sage, and the night had been spent under open sky, accompanied by a strangely silent Sephiroth. She wondered if Meteor's presence was affecting him as she could see him casting fleeting glances up at it from time to time.
Sephiroth didn't sleep at all last night, despite her urging him to, and Aeris couldn't help but to feel worried. There was something bothering him, and instinct told her it wasn't the possibility of Meteor landing on them all. It was something else...
The sound of splashing water made her slowly open her eyes, and Aeris gasped delighted as she saw the golden chocobo's feet run easily over the water surface. It was amazing!
"Well," Sephiroth shrugged, "never thought I would say this... but this chocobo is pretty ok."
Knowing his distaste for the big birds, Aeris made a mock gasp, "are you saying you like this chocobo? The great Sephiroth actually approves of a chocobo?!"
"Didn't say I liked it..." Sephiroth mumbled embarrassed, "just that it's not quite as idiotic as the others of it's breed."
Aeris giggled, "careful now, or I might start to believe you're actually capable of approving of something!"
Huffing, Sephiroth lifted his chin slightly, "I approve of many things."
"Yeah? Mention one thing you approve of that is not war-related!" Aeris dared, feeling slightly more relaxed by there mere sound of his voice, as it made her forget what could happen should she fall of the chocobo.
Sephiroth didn't hesitate. "You," he declared softly, "good enough answer?"
Aeris blinked. Then a smile spread on her face and she hugged him as tightly as she dared with him being injured, "that is so sweet of you, Sephiroth!"
Chuckling, Sephiroth shook his head slightly while placing one hand over hers, "well, now I've been called 'sweet' as well! My missions in life are now complete!"
"But you are sweet!" Aeris persisted, and added 'as well as drop-dead gorgeous' in her mind.
The silver haired man snorted mirthfully, "I am terrifying, thank you!"
"Adorable!" Aeris retorted, grinning as she felt him twitch.
"Mind-numbingly scary, if you don't mind!" Sephiroth demanded haughtily, fighting off a smile of his own.
"Cute!" It was almost impossible not to laugh now, but Aeris bit her lower lip in a brave effort.
"Horrifying!" Sephiroth shot back, loosing against the chuckles that fought to get free.
"Cuddly! Amiable! Gentle! Snuggly!" Aeris listed up, scanning her mind to add more.
"Frightful! Awe-inspiring! Fearsome! Magnificent! Exalted!" Sephiroth retaliated, realising he was having the most absurd argument of his life!
Aeris giggled, and they kept up their word-fight until Sephiroth suddenly fell silent after hours of good-natured bickering.
"Something wrong?" Aeris stretched to peer over his shoulder, "ooh, why do you have to be so tall?" Her smile then faded as she saw the main-land in the distance, and Aeris sank down into her previous position, resting her cheek to his back. She should be happy that they were almost at their goal. Each step the chocobo took was bringing her closer to a future with Cloud and the destruction of Meteor. The Meteor that was now dangerously close, it's heat making the temperature rise several degrees.
So why wasn't she happy?!
Aeris closed her eyes, unaware of how silent and tense Sephiroth had grown too. The cheerful mood had vanished and they both sank into deep thoughts.
She had no doubt that Cloud and AVALANCHE would be able to defeat Jenova, and she knew the blonde had survived his trip in the Lifestream as the planet had let her see his dreams. Aeris was also aware that Meteor would probably be able to cause some damage despite everything, but with her and Sephiroth warning the inhabitants of Midgar the casualties should be non-existent.
So why was she still not happy?!
Sephiroth was grateful that Aeris fell silent as well. At the sight of the main-lands in the horizon made him loose all his playfulness, and he just wanted to focus on the feeling of her close. A few hours away and his time with Aeris would be over. They would warn ShinRa and it would be up to the fiery-haired brat wether he wanted to save Midgars inhabitants or not, but either way Sephiroth would never be alone with Aeris again.
He closed his eyes and swallowed hard before opening them again and forced himself to focus on the approaching beach ahed of them.
Sephiroth had no idea what he was going to do with himself if they survived through all of this. It was the first time in his life that he was free to make his own decisions, and no one cared what he did with that freedom. Freedom was a double-edged sword. No one was pulling his strings, but at the same time it meant that he was alone. Sephiroth never had anyone he could actually call a friend, his position and superiors wouldn't allow it. The closest he came to a friendship was with the soldier named Zack, but he too had died. Everything and everyone Sephiroth touched withered and died.
A little while later did the golden chocobo's feet touched solid ground, and silence continued to linger between the two. Each unaware of the other's gloomy thoughts.
Sephiroth was completely unprepared for the intense pain that suddenly raged through his pain and automatically grasped his head with an agonized sound, almost loosing balance.
"Sephiroth! What's wrong?" Aeris exclaimed worried, supporting him with her grip around him to prevent him from falling off. "Sephiroth?"
He was unable to answer. The sound of a thousand demons howling rushed through his mind, a mocking laugh and the taste of blood was all he could sense.
Getting hold of the reins, Aeris managed to stop the chocobo and could only watched in pained anxiousness as Sephiroth crumbled slightly forward with his eyes closed hard. What was happening?!
The pain was so intense he wanted to scream, but he wouldn't give in! Sephiroth barely managed to open his eyes a glitch to see a figure approaching them from a distance. Silver hair and black clothing.
Jenova.
Forcing himself to react, Sephiroth straightened and removed Aeris' arms from around him.
The girl was clearly frightened and did not understand what was happening, her confusion not decreasing as he slid off the chocobo to stand on wobbly feet.
"Sephiroth, what are you doing? What is happening?" Aeris wanted to get off as well, but Sephiroth placed a hand on her knee to prevent her and she gazed quizzically at him.
"Listen," Sephiroth said, his voice dull with pain, "you have to get to Midgar and warn them, ok?"
Frowning confused, Aeris tried to get an answer by reading his face, "what do you mean? We are going to Midgar and warn everyone!"
The silver haired man gave a faint smile, "I can't. Now, the chocobo should be able to out-run any monster you come across, and promise me you wont stop until you're inside Midgar's gates, ok?"
Just as she was about to object, Aeris saw the figure in the distance and she paled. A Sephiroth-clone. She quickly gazed down at Sephiroth again, eyes filled with fear. "Sephiroth, no! You can't fight her now! You're injured!"
Glancing briefly at the clone that had halted a short distance from them, Sephiroth then focused on Aeris again, "she wont let us pass. The only way is to fight her, or none of us will reach Midgar. Now, go."
Shaking her head fiercly, Aeris made sign to get down, "no! No, I won't let you do this! Not alone! Together we might stand a chance, but I'm NOT leaving you here!"
Sephiroth gave a weak smile, speaking in a soft voice, "thank you... for everything..."
The he gave the chocobo a hard slap over it's feathery thigh, and the bird warked startled before running off.
Sephiroth heard Aeris call out his name, but he didn't look as the bird was bringing her away from him and into safety, instead he pulled out the Masamune and slowly walked towards the awaiting clone.
"I will just hunt her down and kill her after I finish you, you know, traitor!" The clone sneered, walking towards him as well.
Sephiroth cut the air absently with the Masamune, "you're welcome to try. Others have tried to kill me, and everyone has failed. And I'm feeling particularly cranky today!"
The clone raised an eyebrow, "ah, yes, the thought of that Ancient returning to the awaiting arms of the puppet troubles you, does it not?"
Flinching, Sephiroth got into a fighting stance, "shut up!"
"You can't hide anything from me, Sephiroth," the clone chuckled, making no move to take out his sword, "our minds are one! Every thought that passed through you is known to me, and your secrets are mine to laugh at!"
Sephiroth charged and was slightly surprised to find Masamune cutting through empty air. Quickly gazing around, he barely avoided the fake Masamune separating his head from his shoulders, and Sephiroth used the opportunity to let the real sword attack.
Jumping back, he then watched with a smug look as the clone's arm fell to the ground, still clutching the sword.
The clone gazed down at the limb, then smiled at Sephiroth, "that's quite impressive. No wonder they call you the great general... But still not good enough!"
The smug remark got stuck in Sephiroth's throat as he saw the clone start to convulse and shake uncontrollably. What was going on?
"Jenova..." Sephiroth whispered, taking a step back as he watched the clone twist and grow into the mutated shape of a Jenova-monster that towered over him. This one was far more powerful than any he'd ever encountered before, and Sephiroth realised he might not survive this fight after all.
Get back into a fighting stance, Sephiroth tilted his head slightly with a smirk, "well then... shall we?"
A tentacle rammed into the ground where he'd been standing a mere second earlier, and Sephiroth spun around to let the Masamune cut through a pulsating lump at Jenova's side. The creatures scream was music to his ears. This was the one thing Sephiroth knew, the only thing that could never confuse him; fight to kill.
Magic attacks flew around him, as Sephiroth dodged them he used every chance to lash out at the creature looking to destroy the very planet.
The attacks and counter-attacks seemed to go on forever.
He was starting to feel a ray of hope shining down on him when pain exploded inside his head and Sephiroth nearly crashed to his knees. Stumbling, he avoided Jenova's tentacle by pure luck and Sephiroth clutched the Masamune with one hand as he pressed the other to his temple.
His vision blurred and he felt the taste of blood spreading in his mouth.
Sephiroth saw the tentacle comming, and he knew he had to get out of the way or it would impale him, but his legs simply wouldn't carry him. He managed to stumble two steps, feeling the attack almost brushing him as it rammed into the ground and sent him flying through the air.
The ground came up to greet him most painfully and Sephiroth felt all the air being knocked out of his lungs. He had to move, or he would die, his mind screamed. Move! Sephiroth fought for air, his entire body numb with raw agony, yet his mind screamed for him to move! MOVE!
Rolling over, he shuddered as Jenova's tentacle rammed into where he'd been and he placed his hands to the ground to push himself up. Strangely enough he was capable of feeling even more pain as he got up, swaying as he touched his chest. Sephiroth's hand came up soaked in blood. His wound had been torn up and he was now bleeding to death. And fast.
Every breath felt like swallowing liquid fire and coldness was seeping into him, yet the silver haired man raised his face to gaze at Jenova. It wasn't over yet.
Sephiroth might be dying, but he'd take that damn creature with him!
Clutching the Masamune tightly with both hands, Sephiroth smirked slightly as a trail of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, "I'll see you in Hell, 'mother'!"
Gathering his last ounce of strength, Sephiroth put everything in a final jump. He leaped high up in the air, gazing down at Jenova awaiting him on the ground and with Meteor burning behind his back, whispering the words only he could hear, "Aeris... Forgive me..."
Then he shot down, the Masamune in front of him, and he could only hear Jenova roar in challenge before it all happened so fast he was unable to really understand it.
An unnaturally warm breeze travelled over the plains as silence had fallen, and the only sound was that of strained breathing.
Sephiroth felt so tired, his eyes slowly closing.
Jenova was dead, the body split in two was slumped beside the crumbled form of the blood-soaked Sephiroth. His attack had succeeded, but it had cost him everything he had left. He was lying on his side, his right hand still clutching the Masamune while the other lay limp on the ground and all he wanted to do was fall asleep.
Sephiroth felt so tired... Oh, so tired...
Something flew pass him, and he vaguely recognized how the air was filled with white light. Holy. It was going to alright now... Meteor would be destroyed, and they would all be safe. Aeris would be safe.
He was letting himself sink into the tempting darkness when voices began screaming. Voices? People screaming? No, it didn't sound like humans... It sounded like something ancient... in pain...
Sephiroth managed a ghost of a frown. Something was wrong.
He forced his eyes to open a glitch and it took several seconds before he was able to focus, but the sight made him start with fear.
Meteor was entering Holy, melting with it, and Sephiroth could hear Midgar being torn to pieces even when he couldn't see the town. He'd sent Aeris there!
Release the Lifestream, the words seemed to enter his mind, and the silver haired man closed his eyes again.
I can't, he thought, so tired...
Release the Lifestream or everything has been in vain...
A second passed, then Sephiroth's hand moved. Just an inch. Then his eyelashes fluttered before his eyes opened.
One last mission... for Aeris...
He had no idea how he managed it, but Sephiroth found himself swaying on his feet and agonizingly slow made his way along the plains unaware of the trail of blood in his wake.
Halting as if he saw some invisible mark, Sephiroth then raised the Masamune with both hands as he let his very life-energy seep into it. Release the Lifestream, and they would live. Aeris would live.
Drawing a pained breath, Sephiroth then rammed the powerful sword into the ground, crashing to his knees as the bright light erupted from the cracks that spread from the wound. The Lifestream. He did it.
Then the green light engulfed him, and Sephiroth felt himself being swept away.
Meteor was slowly descending down on Midgar and the air was filled with the sounds of the city being torn to pieces and the cries of the Planet, but Aeris didn't care. She urged the chocobo to run faster, tears trailing down her cheeks. It had take forever to persuade the huge bird to turn around, but for once Aeris would not be deterred! Sephiroth had no chance against Jenova alone in his state! And he knew it...
Well, if he planned on sacrificing his life so that she would live, then he would be sorely disappointed! Aeris would be damned before she'd let him do something like that! He was trying to pull every trick he knew so that he would make her break her promise to him, a promise to show him what this world could offer.
"Be alive, Sephiroth," Aeris prayed through sobs, shutting out the heat from Meteor from her mind. "Be alive long enough for me to reach you... I want to see you again..."
If they all were going to die anyway, Aeris realised she wanted to die with Sephiroth. By his side. In his arms. It didn't matter, as long as he was there. She was not afraid when he was there to protect her.
"Sephiroth!" Aeris called out, gazing wildly around, then started as she saw the huge form of the defeated Jenova.
The chocobo warked in protest and came to a halt. It would not go any further, and Aeris was just getting off when the ground shook violently. Earthquake? She swayed to keep balance, seeing the ground cracking up as the Lifestream came shooting up.
Running towards the silent Jenova, Aeris was calling out for Sephiroth as she ignored the voices of her ancestors telling her to get to safety.
The sight of all the blood on the ground made Aeris feel sick, knowing Jenova did not bleed. "Sephiroth..."
She then noticed the trail of blood and trotted along it to find it ending by a huge gap in the ground. Aeris sank to her knees in defeat and cried in silent agony.
Something caught her attention and she raised her tear filled eyes to the Lifestream dancing above her, and something glinted in it.
Aeris got up, staring at the object as it seemed to be falling towards her.
She didn't flinch as the Masamune came swirling through the air and jabbed into the ground in front of her. The hilt was stained with blood.
Aeris let the tears run silently as she reached out and took a hold of the powerful sword, feeling the blood still warm against her palm. "Sephiroth..."
It was impossible to make the sword budge. It would obey no other than the former general. And Aeris saw a drop of blood run down the blade like a crimson tear...
Drawing a sharp breath, Aeris wiped her tears away angrily, "I won't let you have him!" She then stepped into the Lifestream, her blood-stained hand clenched hard as she let the green light surround her.
It wasn't the first time Aeris entered the Lifestream, but this time it was by her own will and not because of the Masamune in the hands of Sephiroth. Her heart was filled with sorrow, longing and a feeling she had yet to name, and not regret like the time before.
This is no place for the living. Go back, young one.
Aeris firmly ignored the bodiless voices, showing no sign she'd even heard them. She was not here to speak with spirits.
Finally her surroundings flickered and she could see the vague contour of someone walking towards her, and Aeris braced herself.
"Aeris?" The voice was soft and filled with affection. A voice that was so familiar. "Aeris, my sweet girl, you shouldn't be here."
Aeris drew a slow breath as her mother materialized in front of her, her heart instantly recognizing the woman her memory barely managed to produce an image of. "I know, but there's been a mistake..."
Ifalna reached out and touched Aeris' tear-soaked cheek, "I'm afraid not, my child. This was how it was meant to be. It was decided when you were sent back."
Confusion flickered in Aeris' eyes and she took a step back. "I don't understand... What do you mean it was already decided? It didn't matter what I did?"
Ifalna shook her head, her eyes pleading for Aeris to understand, "of course it matters what you have done. Without you the planet would have been destroyed, and everything would have perished. You saved us all!"
A thousand thoughts ran through her head and Aeris found it hard to breathe. It was already decided, when she approached his camp that night, his death-sentence was already written and there was nothing she could do about it. She'd watched him struggle and win. She'd seen the tortured soul inside him stretch for freedom and peace. Aeris had promised to give him freedom, and she had lied. It had already been decided. It didn't matter. Nothing had.
"NO!" Aeris screamed, tears flowing anew. "How could you?! He was trying SO hard, and it didn't matter to you?! All his pain was for nothing?! His sacrifices in vain?!"
Starting at the anger, Ifalna raised a hand to her heart, "Aeris... please... you must understand... He's evil... What he has done, it cannot be forgiven. A tool of Jenova must be destroyed."
Gazing around, Aeris saw the flickering shapes in the green light. "A tool? If he's no more than a tool to you, then how can I be any more valuable? A tool of Jenova and a tool of the Ancients...! So why let me live? My life shouldn't mean more to you than his, according to your words!"
"Don't say such words," Ifalna wrapped her arms around herself. "Of course your life is important to us."
Aeris shook her head slowly, "lies... It was all lies..." She'd believed in what they'd told her. And they had used that trust. Sephiroth had placed his soul in her hands, and she had lead him into his death.
Sephiroth had taken her life with the Masamune once, her sin was infinitely worse. A guilt she would never be able to live with.
Sinking to her knees, Aeris closed her eyes. "If my mission has earned me an ounce of your gratitude, then let me be spared from returning to the planet ever again."
Gasping, Ifalna kneeled beside her, "Aeris! You cannot mean this!"
The memory the last time she saw Sephiroth flashed pass her eyes. His eyes gentle, yet filled with pain. "Thank you... for everything..."
Aeris shivered and slowly opened her eyes again, "he saved my life. He fought against Jenova by his own free will. He... he was trying, and that was more than good enough for me. Isn't that why we're supposed to be better than the likes of Jenova? Because we possess mercy, kindness and the ability to give a second chance to someone who's willing to try?"
There was a long silence, and Aeris let her gaze wander in hopes of meeting some understanding from the vague forms flickering in the light.
That was when she noticed the only shape keeping still. A shape floating somewhere ahed of her inside the Lifestream.
Sephiroth.
He could almost appear asleep, his silver hair dancing around him and his hands limply by his sides. However, the pained expression on his face ruined the docile atmosphere and Aeris jumped to her feet. "Sephiroth!" She ran towards him until an invisible barrier halted her a mere meter away.
For him to live, would you surrender you life?
The voice was unlike any voice Aeris had ever heard. Deep and ancient.
"Yes," Aeris declared without hesitation as she placed her hands against the barrier like she wanted to reach out and touch the still form of Sephiroth.
Would you surrender your ancient blood, thus leaving you without any means of communicating with your ancestors and loosing your connection with the planet?
Her eyes were locked on Sephiroth, and Aeris nodded quickly, "for him, I would."
Ifalna stepped up beside Aeris, glancing at the silver haired man before focusing on her daughter again, "why are you doing this, Aeris?"
Smiling through tears, Aeris moved her hand so it would have touched Sephiroth's face had it not been for the barrier and the distance, "because I love him."