Awakening Pt.1

Sephiroth paced the room, impatient, indecisive. Even after thirty years his so-called father's phrase rang through his mind…

"REDEMPTION!"

It affected him in some way, a way he didn't want to really address. He put a hand to his chin and thought. His sentence would be up soon. How would he live when he got out?

His "father" had placed this curse on him, and his rival Cloud had carried it out. Sephiroth never thought that it could happen, that he could be defeated… Arrogance, his downfall. He would not let that happen again.

What had happened while he slept? The universe was changing. His father had left their home world and went off, to watch a female child. The universe had been changing since she was born. So had he. At first he was broken down, disbelieving what had happened… later he raged at them all, and his prison, and swore revenge… then, getting bored with many years left he started to watch. He watched his father, Cloud, all of them. He watched people he didn't even know, and lived with them in their minds for awhile. And through all this he was changing.

All he had been before was arrogant and cold. As a child he was lonely but he had soon learned that there was nothing that could be done about it so he resolved to be strong, and get the people back for ruining his life. But as the years passed in his icy prison something was happening. He was lonely again. He longed for contact with someone, anyone. And, most shocking, he wasn't angry, he wasn't vengeful. A strange sort of peace had descended upon him, for the time being.

"REDEMPTION!" Why did that phrase haunt him? He did not want redemption and he was far past it anyway. Besides all he had did, he had came to realize that he was mad at the time… he did not do it sanely so being redeemed was out of the question. What did he want?

Sephiroth stopped paced, and his jaw dropped. He wanted something? What? There in his own core there was a yearning… a sweet yearning that needed to be filled before he could ever be satisfied. He glanced at the icy door. Nothing had changed. His body should be waking up soon but there was no change. What did he have to do before he left? Hadn't he spent enough time in here? He shot to the door and slammed his fist into it. Nothing. He had learned that within the first year.

He straightened and breathed. He needed to remain calm. He laughed. Before he was never truly calm… something had always raced through his bloodstream, making him anxious and edgy all the time. Stupid Jenova. Bitch. And he had thought Cloud was a pawn… he laughed bitterly. He couldn't do anything about it now. His father had finished her off. For doing that act for him, Sephiroth had forgiven his father for damning him to a sort of hell. He can't say that he didn't deserve it, but he didn't know anything else but killing… how could they blame him truly, when he never had a chance?

Wait. Sephiroth's head shot up. He had forgiven his father. His true father that is. Had he ever done that in his entire life? How strange….

"REDEPMTION!"

"Stop haunting me!" He yelled at the ceiling. He knew now what was the yearning inside of him, but he was not ready yet to admit it. It was ridiculous, it was unheard of… he was lying.

The door wavered in front of him. He rushed to it but it still held firm. What have you learned? What! Was he crazy again? Who said that? What have you learned? He stared at his reflection, and decided to answer.

"I learned I can have a life if I take it. I have desires, and wantings, and things that my soul longs for. And I learned that I have a soul."

What does your soul long for?

"Companionship I suppose…"

What does it long for this second? What do you want?

Surprised, Sephiroth straightened. No one had ever asked him what he wanted. It was all what was best for him, and even then the base essentials for living. Of all the things in the worlds, what did he want, right now?

He thought about his father's words and the female that he watched. He thought about his rival's pain and agony in his soul. He for once, thought about what would truly make him happy.

"I think… I just want to be forgiven."

The door vanished. Sephiroth was free.