Disclaimer- I do not own FF7 or anything or anyone that has to do with it, Squaresoft does.

Chapter Four: Call of the Cetra

Sometime later Sephiroth's dreams of vengance were cut short by the rythem of footsteps steadily pulling out of distance. Sephiroth's eyes shot open, and he found himself standing. "She wouldn't," he thoguht to himself. Much to his relief, Aeris was still laying peacefully against the rock. "so, who could that be," Sephiroth wondered out loud, as he peaked his head around the corner, eager to investigate. Tensing up in case of an attack, Sephiroth grabbed Masamune and headed carefully towards the echoing steps.

He found, they were not footsteps at all, but droplets of water, coming from a crack in one of the underground's many frozen walls. Sephiroth grinned to himself, in disbelief that he had worked himself up over nothing. That was, until he felt a small hand, cold and stiff as death, grab hold of his wrist.

Sephiroth quickly tried to pull away, but the owner of the hand held even more streangth than he. As Sephiroth struggled away from the clammy grip, he looked down and saw the level 70 Tonberry. Sephiroth laughed, mocking madness as he relaxed and with his free hand, slicing Masamune through the turtle's neck, decapitating it.

Meanwhile, Aeris awoke to find herself alone, but not completely. He was still near, she could feel his breath fresh and hot against her neck, his whispers harsh and menacing, nipping at her ears. She sat up, starring at the lifestream pulsating, thrusting itself along it's path. "Is this what my life is worth," she wondered outloud, as she stared on, almost hypnotized by the bright green liquid. "Is this the fate the gods have chosen for me?"

"What you see before you, is what you will become, what we all become eventually," Sephiroth said, starteling Aeris. She stood, and looked up at him somberly. "It is time to set my plan in motion," Sephiroth stated slowly. Aeris stepped back slowly. "What do I do," she said qietly, and Sephiroth grinned darkly. "Call to him, Aeris. Call the boy, bring him to me." Aeris tilted her head to the side, confused. "I thought I was to wait for him to come..." she started, but Sephiroth cut her off. "There isn't enough time, I need him to come now."

Aeris shook her head. "That's not the way it works," Aeris stated with a hint of sarcasm. Sephiroth grinned with amusement. "Oh, it will work that way, and you'll do it now. I'll make sure of it." With that, Sephiroth pulled Masamune out again and as he pulled her against himself with one arm, and with the other, slid Masamune tight against her neck.

Aeris took a deep breath and focused herself to his thoughts. She furrowed her brows and frowned against the sharp pain that always came with calling to channeling. She severely disliked intruding upon other's minds, but she had no other choice.

In Avalanche's small encampment, Cloud woke up with a startle. "She's here, I can feel her calling to me..."

"He's coming," She gasped, and Sephiroth let loose his grip, letting the Ancient fall to the ground. "Good," Sephiroth stated, then walked off, leave to his own thoughts. Aeris lay heaving for breath, watching as Sephiroth dipped his fingers into the lifestream. He turned and stared at Aeris scrutinizingly. "When will he be here," Sephiroth demanded, and Aeris gasped sharply. "He's in the Forgotton Capital." Sephiroth leaned against the wall, grinning to himself. "Perfect," he said, mostly to himself, and Aeris looked up, questinably. Sephiroth smirked back. "Under the Snowfields... Our destiny awaits."