I'd show a smile, but I'm too weak. I'd share with you, could I only speak just how much this hurts me.
This Time Imperfect - AFI-----
The journey after leaving the ship was nothing more than a blur to Aerith. Her trembling body held tight in Sephiroth's almost cruel grip, she buried her face in his shoulder as they began to rise swiftly into the air. His fury was palpable, something she could almost taste, radiating from him in intense waves. It was clear now that whatever slight mercies he had ever shown her were part of a person dead and gone. The sheer power and cold rage that were so very apparent to her now were terrifying. They were hurtling through the air at a speed which made the wind scream in her ears. She raised her head once, to look back at the ship; it was nothing more that a dark mark now in the vast ocean of blue.What have I done? a part of her screamed as she again closed her eyes against the harsh reality of the choice she had made. She had saved her friends, she knew, but the implications of what she had doomed herself to in return made her numb with fear. If ever it had been in doubt, it was now revealed with brutal clarity: with Sephiroth lay her death. For how long Sephiroth carried them through the air was unknown to her. When they began to slow and descend dread rushed through her. What would happen now?
He landed lightly, one foot touching the ground directly after the other. His hold on her loosened, and as he set her down she stumbled rapidly away. She looked around, a little wildly, to find that they were on a beach; the ocean bordered them, the coastline extending both ways as far as she could see. Her gaze returned to Sephiroth with some trepidation, but his attention was elsewhere. His head was cocked to the side as if listening closely to something only he could hear. Moments passed as he remained thus. Aerith cast another furtive glance around; if she ran, he would inevitably catch her, and she had no wish to incite his wrath further. The sun was setting; a brilliant fire which lit up the horizon and reflected brightly off the calm waters. Aerith, watching the light fade and give way to night, felt great despair overwhelm her. There was no hope; whatever happiness she had known upon finding her friends was gone; buried beneath the onslaught of fear and hopelessness.As the sky darkened to a vibrant orange, Sephiroth raised his head. Aerith's eyes moved quickly to him. He said tonelessly, without looking at her, "There has been a change in plans."
"What do you mean?" She asked, her voice soft in fear."I mean, " he said, pivoting on the spot to survey the surroundings, "that there is something else I must do for Mother."
A small amount of relief flooded Aerith. Perhaps Jenova had no use for her now ..."Oh, do not decieve yourself." He said then with a brittle smile, watching her emotions flicker across her expressive face. "Mother still wishes to see you. Before that, however, there are some stops we will be making."
She opened her mouth to ask him where they would be stopping, but he raised a hand to stop her. "To the east several miles lays Costa Del Sol. It is a port city. The freighter we were just on board, the one your friends inhabit," here he paused, his lip curling, " It will be docking there. Our destination however, lies to the north. The Golden Saucer has something I need."The Golden Saucer. Aerith had heard tell of it; choice vacation spot, with all manner of entertainment. There would be people there, many people, and perhaps there she would have another chance to -
"It will not happen." Sephiroth stated, reading her face. "Not again. I promise you this."Aerith swallowed at the cold finality and underlying threat in his tone. He continued, "Whatever hope you hold for escaping, extinguish it. I shall not be delayed any further, and I will not hesitate to kill this time. Indeed," his smile was cruel, "I will even enjoy it. I am the only person you need concern yourself with from this point on."
She did not reply. He gestured opposite the ocean, to where the moon hung large and luminous above the rambling treeline which started not far from where they stood. "In those trees we will stay the night. Walk."She obeyed his order numbly, turning and walking towards the forest, aware of him following not far behind. Instead of swirling in tulmutous commotion, her thoughts were eerily silent. She couldn't bear to think of Cloud, to think of her friends, to think of anything right now. What was the point? Nothing held importance, nothing but her captive existance and inevitable death, death that drew closer with each step she made. He had said she would not escape again, and she believed it. He would not falter in his guard now; he would be ever vigilant. There was nothing left for her now -
A random thought, straying out of the darkest reaches of her mind, almost brought her to a halt. She resumed walking normally, not wanting him to know what she was thinking as he so often did. It was ludicrous, it was extreme; what else did she have. Aerith knew beyond all certainty that whatever Jenova wanted her for, whatever Jenova needed, she would not survive. What then would befall Mother and Son's plans if the last remaining Cetra were to die prematurely?Even as she denied it, even as she attempted to lock it away, the realization of what she had to do, what she must do had taken root deep within her. Tears slipped quickly from her eyes, and she bowed her head so that they fell to the ground before they could be noticed. There was no other way. In living she would only aid Jenova somehow, fulfil some dire use that she was needed for. Better then to take her own life, better then to end it her way.
The were almost to the trees. She raised her head then, to stare at the moon were it reigned the night sky. The stars, abundant and bright, reminded her of a night not long ago, when she was still in Midgar. It was that night she had encountered Cloud, and it was that night her life had been irrevocably altered. Their beauty was heart rending, tragic, and somewhere deep inside her something cracked and shattered.Her decision was made. She would not live to see Jenova.