Chapter 28: Pain unimaginable.
'What is going on!' Yuffie shouted to herself as she sat on the cliff overlooking the destroyed reactor of Gongaga, legs dangling in the wind. 'What's up with Cloud? How could he give Sephiroth the Black Materia? And how could he attack Aerith?' Yuffie's head fell into her hands, "And where did Aerith go?" She whispered.
Aerith had vanished the day before, shortly after they reached Gongaga. The group had searched for her desperately but to no avail. In the end they had decided to wait for Cloud to wake before continuing their search. "Stupid Cloud!" Yuffie suddenly yelled as she flopped on her back.
"What did the cloud do to offend you?"
Yuffie strained her neck to see Nanaki walking over to her. "Not those clouds." Yuffie returned her gaze to the sky, "Although our leader seems to have one for a brain!"
Nanaki lay down next to the teenager, "This wasn't the first time he lost himself."
Yuffie's head shot up, "WHAT! Why didn't you tell anyone!"
"I did," Nanaki chuckled, "But I believe you were far to interested in trying to wake up Aerith or being seasick to notice."
Yuffie propped herself up on her elbows, "Well I'm listening now." Nanaki proceeded to retell the events within the temple, of how Cloud seemed to lose control and of Aerith's revelations about the Cetra. Yuffie stared silently toward the horizon, "Whoa."
"Indeed." Nanaki agreed, "And now Aerith is gone without a trace and Cloud is incapacitated." Nanaki sighed, "And we don't know where to go next."
Yuffie rolled her eyes at the fiery beast, "Aren't you Mr. Hopeful! Come on! You've got the Great Ninja Yuffie on your side! I'll figure it out!" Nanaki stared at the gloating ninja a moment before bursting out laughing. "What!" Yuffie demanded.
"Nothing," Nanaki replied after he caught his breath, "Thank you Yuffie, you're right. We'll figure something out." Nanaki then rose and walked away albeit with a peeved stare from stormy eyes.
"Yeah, well whatever!" Yuffie crossed her hands under her head and continued staring into the sky for the next few minutes.
"Yuffie!" Tifa called.
Yuffie sat up slowly, "Wonder what Tifa wants, she hasn't left Cloud's side since..-' Yuffie jumped up, "Tifa! Does this mean Clouds awake?"
"Yes," Tifa answered, "Although he doesn't remember much about what happened."
"I'm gonna MAKE him remember!" Yuffie threatened.
Tifa grabbed the fuming girls arm, "Don't." She pleaded, "He's already punishing himself enough as it is."
Yuffie stared into Tifa's burgundy eyes, "Fine. But he better keep his head!"
"Don't worry I will."
Yuffie turned to face Cloud, "Uhh.. hi?"
Cloud shook his head, "It's alright Yuffie, I know how you must feel. I betrayed everyone and maybe even the planet." Cloud sighed, "And what's worst is that Aerith is now going to fight Sephiroth alone."
"What!" Yuffie screamed, "Alone! We have to help her! Let's go!" With that the hyperactive ninja sped towards the exit of town. When she reached the tombstones she suddenly stopped and returned, "Ah, where is she?"
Cloud grinned, "She's gone to the City of the Ancients, through the Sleeping Forest."
Yuffie gave him an odd look, "How do you know?"
Cloud stared off into the distance, "Aerith told me."Everyone stared at their leader for a moment, Cloud looked about the group. "No matter what I'm going, none of you have to come if you don't trust me any longer."
Tifa put a reassuring hand on Cloud's shoulder, "I'm still with you." Cloud gave her a look of thanks before looking back to the others.
"Well I ain' gonna quit now!" Barret walked over and stood behind Cloud.
"Grandfather asked me to help fight for the planet. I won't fail him." Nanaki joined the trio.
Cait Sith began bouncing over; "My company is to blame for this. I have to help fix it!" he shouted before Barret could protest.
Yuffie jumped next to Tifa, "Well duh!" She said with a big grin.
Cid looked over the group in front of him and took a long drag on his cigarette, "I guess I always end up with the #$&( morons!" He laughed before joining the large group.
Cloud looked to the last member of the group, "What are you going to do Vincent?" Everyone stared hopefully at the shadowed man.
Vincent stood silent for a moment before stepping next to Cloud, "I still have unfinished business with Hojo." He said in explanation.
"Yay!" Yuffie cried happily, "Let's go find Aerith!" And so the slightly smaller AVALANCHE headed for the northern continent.
ON THE COAST NEAR BONE VILLAGE, NIGHT IS ONLY HOURS AWAY.
"Eww! What is that!" Yuffie pointed to the skull rising above the tree line.
"That's Bone Village." Cid answered, "I used to fly supplies out here. But then $() Shinra got my hopes up with the space program!"
"Let's head there." Cloud began walking; suddenly the blunt end of Cid's spear stopped him. "Wha-?"
"We have to wait for morning." Cid interrupted. "This forest is filled with Vlakorados, they hunt at night."
Cloud pushed the spear out of his way, "We have to reach Aerith! I don't care about the Vlakorados!" With that he began stomping his way through the undergrowth.
"Well #$ you to!" Cid turned red but followed; everyone else followed closely behind the fuming pair.
"I can see the edge of the village!" Cloud called to the group, "We're almost there!" A roared froze him in his tracks, the undergrowth to his left suddenly exploded revealing a red monster of dominating size. With fangs and claws bared it charged Cloud. Cloud dived out of the way narrowly avoiding the razor grip of the beast.
Cid ran towards the beast. "Cid no!" Cloud called in vain. Cid used his spear as a pole-vault and launched himself onto the back of the fearsome creature. "What are you doing!" Cloud shouted as he drew his sword.
"Going after its $& weak spot!" Cid shouted back. Cid reached within his jacket and pulled out a stick of TNT. Quickly lighting it he stuffed it down the creature's throat. "Chew on that!" Cid laughed as he jumped of the rampaging animal. The Vlakorados stood still for a moment as it gagged on the stick, BOOM! The trees were suddenly covered in a sticky paste of blood and bone. The remaining part of the reptile's body slumped to the ground.
"What did I tell you Spiky-$$!" Cid glared at the blonde swordsman, "That was my last stick of TNT you #$& idiot!" The rest of the group rushed onto the scene.
"What hap-?" Tifa was interrupted when more crashing was heard from the woods, the entirety of AVALANCHE turned to face the new threat. The crashing drew closer until several men dressed in loose shirts and hardhats appeared from the woods. At the sight of the odd group of battle ready travelers the poor miners froze.
"What's going on?" One of them asked. Immediately AVALANCHE lowered their weapons. "First its girl's in pink dresses and now you guys!"
Cloud looked to the miner sharply, "Pink dress? Did she have long brown hair and green eyes?"
The miner looked at Cloud confused, "Yes..."
Cloud approached the miner and roughly grabbed his shoulders, "That's Aerith! Where did she go!" Cloud's voice was desperately pleading.
"Let go of me!" The miner pushed Cloud off of him, "She went into the Sleeping Forest. Poor girl." The miner looked down in sadness.
"What do you mean?" Tifa asked as she gently restrained Cloud.
"Well Ms. No one every comes out of the forest, horrible things lurk within. Some say its like the forest is having a nightmare and whatever monsters can appear in nightmares appear there. Unless..."
"Unless what!" Cloud begged.
"Unless we could find the Lunar Harp to wake the thing up." The miner replied, "The stories say it's buried in our dig site. We might be able to find it for you." A greedy gleam appeared in the miner's eye, "If you're willing to pay that is."
"What!" Cloud's anger began to rise, "This is a matter of life and death!"
The miner shrugged, "So is our business, explosives and equipment cost money."
Cloud's shoulders sank slightly, "Fine how much?"
"50 gil per explosive, the more you use the easier it is to find what you're looking for and 100 gil a man to pinpoint the objects location from the sonic waves created by the explosives." The miner explained.
"Here's 1,000 gil." Cloud tossed the greedy man a coin, "How fast will that find us the Harp?"
The man caught the coin and smiled happily, "We'll get on it right now." He turned to his crew, "Boys! Set the charges! Calibrate the sensors! We're doing a blast in 5 minutes!" The miners ran back to the village followed closely by AVALANCHE. Within a few minutes all the miners had taken places atop strange machines that stuck deeply into the ground. "SET! CHARGES READY! 3! 2! 1!" With that, a massive explosion shook the area, causing Yuffie and Tifa to fall to their knees and Cat to fall off his moogle.
"Ow!" Yuffie cried, "That hurt!" A small trickle of blood began descending down her shin." She smacked the Miner in the shoulder, "Ya could have warned me!"
The head miner listened intently to his radio, ignoring Yuffie. "Well?" Cloud pressed, "Anything?"
The miner silenced Cloud with a raised hand, his eyes suddenly brightened. "Well this must be your lucky day! We may have found it on the first try!" With that he turned his back on the group and began barking orders. "Get the auger! Faster!" he glanced over his shoulder, "Don't worry we'll have it out in an hour. Go rest until then."
"Ugh!" Yuffie sank to her butt, "Not more waiting!" The group finally laughed for the first time since the temple.
ONE HOUR.
A very dirty miner pushed the door opened, "Thar ya go lad!" He grinned, "An thanks be to ye fer buyin all them bombs! We found quite the trove!" He tossed a cloth-wrapped object towards Cloud and disappeared out the door again. Cloud unraveled the cloth to reveal a very simple harp. It was pure white with silver strings.
"That's it?" Yuffie said unimpressed, "That's what is supposed to wake up a whole forest?"
Cloud shrugged, "Let's mosey. We have to hurry."
The group ran to the edge of the forest. The forest stared back darkly; it's twisting branches and mossed vines inviting them to their doom. "Great." Yuffie gulped. Cloud just walked into the forest with the harp in front of him, when he was several feet in he strummed the small instrument a few times.
The sound echoed from every tree, slowly growing to a dull roar. The trees seemed to move their branches, allowing more light to penetrate the canopy. The aura of evil dissipated from within the forest replaced by a much more ancient glow and presence. "Let's go." Cloud said as he began running through the woods, "Aerith might be in trouble!"
AVALANCHE hurried through the forest, each forcing themselves to go faster. After a half-hour Cid began to cough harshly. Cat Sith moved behind him, much to Cid's disgust the moogle lifted the swearing pilot, "Put me the #$ down!"
"No." Cat Sith said, all trace of the toy gone, "We can't afford to slow down." Cid was actually silenced by the toy's bluntness and resigned himself to be carried. Soon the others began to tire but they forced themselves on by sheer will. Tifa, conditioned as she was, began to falter.
"Hop on." Nanaki offered, "I can carry you the rest of the way." Tifa looked at him thankfully before jumping on his back, Nanaki shifted under the weight but was soon back up to speed with his long, powerful strides.
Barret began to fall behind, "Come on Barret!" Cloud called back, "Aerith is depending on us!" Barret's eyes took on a soft shimmer before hardening with determination, he pumped his legs more and caught up with the group.
'My legs are burning!' Yuffie cried to herself, 'I can't go on! I was never any good at marathons!' Her legs felt as if they would give out at any moment, her lungs were beginning to stop pulling in air, and her heart felt as if it was about to burst. Suddenly she felt her foot catch on a rock, 'Oh no!' The next seconds seemed to last an eternity.
She saw the ground coming at her, but at the last moment her direction was changed, she felt the straps of her armor tighten as they were pulled. The next the she knew all she could see was a sea of flowing crimson and ebony. 'What the?' She looked around to realize Vincent had caught her once again, "Thanks." She whispered as she allowed herself to be carried over the gunman's shoulder.
Soon they reached the edge of the forest, before them lay the ruined capitol of the Cetra. "Well...(gasp)... we made it!" Barret said as he labored to catch his breath. Cloud still didn't stop he continued to run down the center path.
"She's this way!" He called back, the group followed quickly.
"$&!" Barret growled as he forced himself to begin running again. The group ran through the shattered shells that were once homes of the powerful Ancients. All their power had crumbled much as their city had. Soon they came upon a serene lake being overlooked by a semi-decent shell home. "We hav ta stop!" Barret yelled as he collapsed to one knee.
"He's right." Tifa said as she slid off Nanaki, who was panting heavily. "We need to let everyone rest."
Cloud looked about the group with desperation, but came to the same realization. "Hold on Aerith! We're on our way!" He called to the setting sun.
"Uh Cait Sith?" Cid asked with a toothy grin.
"Yeah Cid?" Cait Sith answered back to his happy self.
"PUT ME THE #$ DOWN!" Cid bellowed.
"Ok." Cait Sith shrugged and dropped the furious pilot. Cid grumbled obscenities but just dusted himself off.
NIGHTFALL.
"Everyone ready?" Cloud asked desperately. They all nodded and followed Cloud when he began walking towards the shell building. When they arrived inside he quickly lead them down a crystal staircase.
"Whoa!" Yuffie froze when she saw what lay below them. A shimmering temple awaited them. Crystals gleamed brightly from the light shimmering through the water. Their magic held the water away from the small altar and buildings at the bottom of the lake. Light turned to sound as it cascaded down the buildings smooth sides, filling the area with a pleasant hum. And on the altar knelt a pink-dressed, emerald-eyed figure.
"Aerith!" Cloud cried and took the steps three at a time till he was only separated by a few columns of stone. "You're ok!" Cloud quickly jumped up the stone columns and approached Aerith. The rest of AVALANCHE arrived at the platform below the stone platforms.
"We made it." Tifa sighed in relief.
"What's he doing?" Yuffie shouted in surprise. Cloud stood over Aerith, sword raised above his head about to cleave the defenseless girl in two.
"CLOUD!" Everyone called even Vincent. Cloud suddenly froze and shook his head, he lower his sword and backed away from Aerith still shaking his head.
"Cloud we're coming!" Tifa called as she began to jump for the first stone column. In midair Tifa was forced to the ground, shortly after everyone save Cloud was force down as well. "What's going on?"
A black shadow appeared in the water slowly growing larger until it forced its way through the temple's barrier with a splash. It continued to fall until Sephiroth's grinning face was revealed, his Masamune held downward. Everyone watched helplessly as he neared Aerith.
Aerith opened her eyes and looked at the former SOLDIER standing frozen before her. "Cloud." She said with a smile, that smiling face suddenly turned to a face of pain and surprise. She looked down to see the tip of the Masamune protruding from her stomach, her own blood lining the blade. She let a small gasp the collapsed forward, only the Masamune held her up. Sephiroth grinned madly as he slowly withdrew the deadly blade from her delicate body.
'NOO!' Yuffie cried as she fought against the power that held her down, 'He killed Aerith!' Tears began to stream down her face, she sobbed freely. "How could you!" She yelled at the insane silver-haired man. Everyone shed tears save for one. Sephiroth was mocking Cloud's anguish as Vincent's fury began to burn brightly.
"You are a..." Sephiroth said as he flew into the sky, "puppet." As Sephiroth disappeared a pulsating chuck of flesh fell to the altar. Everyone felt himself or herself released and they quickly ran to the grieving Cloud as another piece of Jenova rose behind him.
"I amm Jenova Life!" The creature breathed as steam escaped its horrid mouth, "You will jooiinn me!" Cloud gently placed Aerith on the side of the altar as the others crossed the stone columns.
When the group had assembled Cloud finally looked up, his mako eyes seemed to burn, "I won't forgive you Sephiroth! And you Life will join the other!" He shouted as he picked up his Buster Sword.
Yuffie glanced at Aerith, desperately hoping to see some sign of life, 'It can't be true!' Everyone began to attack the creature, only by sending waves of water could the creature hold the furious AVALANCHE at bay.
"Vincent check your aim!" Barret yelled, "You missed!"
'No I can't let them have control.' Vincent tried forcing the demons back down. He glanced at Aerith and felt his mental barriers shatter. Vincent suddenly cried out in pain and dropped his gun it skidded across the floor.
"What's wrong Vincent!" Tifa jumped back from Life's attacks.
Vincent made no reply but to fall to his knees, he felt his body growing larger. Soon his mind was forced completely down. 'Death Gigas is free!' One of the demons laughed as another took control of Vincent's body.
"Look out!" Yuffie cried, "Vinnie! It's coming for you!" Life had sent one of its long arms crashing down towards the seemingly helpless Vincent. Yuffie began running for Vincent but suddenly skidded to a halt, "Run!" She cried to the others, "Vinnie's changing!" With that the members of AVALANCHE backed away from the fight. Vincent's cloths had shimmered away revealing a patchwork of light and dark skin, his muscles bulged as his lean frame became overwhelmed with power.
Death Gigas looked up and growled through the bolt in its mouth, and then Life's arm smashed it into the altar. "Vinnie!" Yuffie cried as Life laughed in gasps. Life stopped when it felt its arm being lifted everyone gasped when Death Gigas slowly forced Life's arm above its head. Gigas looked at the creature with pure hate and growled once again. Sparks of electricity began forming around the hulking patchwork of flesh. As the sparks grew brighter they suddenly became bolts of lightning and crashed into Life's body through Gigas's hands.
Life bellowed in pain and tried to pull away but Gigas tightened its grasp and forced more voltage into the beast. The air began to fill with the stench of burning flesh, again and again Life shrieked in pain but its cries only fed the Death Gigas's anger. Soon Life shrank limply to the ground, but Gigas did not stop the attack. It poured more and more power into the lifeless body until Life became nothing but dust that was slowly being blown away by the breeze from the upper world.
Death Gigas howled in triumph as AVALANCHE looked on in fear. The enraged monster looked around the area until its eyes fell upon the group, it took a step towards them. "Vincent the battles over!" Cloud yelled, "Come back!" The Death Gigas continued its slow march until it felt something under its foot. It took a step back and looked down, on the ground lay the Quicksilver and a pink ribbon. Memories flooded into the creature's mind, Vincent was awakened by the memories and fought the creature into submission.
"Vinnie?" Yuffie called when the creature grabbed its head in pain. Slowly the massive monster before them shrank down and, after a shimmering, Vincent lay on the ground. "Vinnie!" Yuffie and Tifa ran to his side. "Tifa! He isn't breathing!"
"Is he ok?" Cloud asked as he approached. Tifa looked at him uncertainly. Cloud turned his gaze to the edge of the altar, "Aerith."