A crowd had appeared around the tunnels. "No!" Professor Gast yelled and ran towards them.
He shoved people out of the way, ignoring their curses towards him and walked to the entrance of the tunnels.
"Oh…" he murmured.
In front of him no longer was the entrance… it had caved in. Rocks laid crumbled on the ground and boulders covered the scene. Pieces of rubble stuck out and dust was still thick in the air, making it hard to breath.
Gast immediately covered his face with his white lab coat.
"Jared!"
He whirled around, Lucrecia and Ifalna ran up next to him, panting hard.
"AVALANCHE must have went through here with Sephiroth and Aeris…" he muttered to himself.
-----
"Omnislash!"
I remember this move…
The two men stood, facing each other, neither of them speaking. Though they were so different… their lives were so similar.
He stared at Cloud, not looking away. Mako turquoise eyes met mako blue eyes. In the darkness, there was a slight gust. He felt his hair fly with the wind.
He knew that this was the end. The last fight.
And he was so sure… that he would win this last fight…He watched in amusement as an aura of reddish yellow light went around the blonde man.
A limit break. He thought musingly. This was going to be interesting.
The light died out and another sort of golden light went around the blonde man. The silver haired man's smile was gone. This limit break was different… this failure clone… so much power…
The blonde man raised his blade, a gold light emitting from the blade. He strafed forward, so quickly that he himself had not expected it. With a new surge of power, he raised his blade high behind his back and brought it down heavily onto the silver haired man, putting all his pain and anger into this one blow.
He felt his eyes widen in surprised. The failure had moved so quickly that he had not even sensed it himself! He moved to block the blow that he anticipated, but found that he had already been struck.
The blonde man struck so quickly that light flared around the two. He never knew that there was such power in a failure!
He watched as his rival jumped back, then jumped high up, ready to strike the final blow that would end it all.
He watched in horror and awe as the blonde man jumped many feet up off the ground. How could a failure have this much power! Another golden light shone, then entwined with a light blue one.
And then the man struck.
His eyes were opened wide. He still could not believe that he would be finished this way. He would not be finished this way…
He raised himself back up, mustering up all his energy. He would sill have to try… try and wound the blonde man somehow… he would not lose this way…
But he could not. Cuts appeared all over his skin, something ran down his forehead. And then he realized that it was blood. Finally he understood… he was mortal…
And here it comes… Nefilim thought and prepared himself for death.
-----
Child…
Planet?
Child…
Planet is that you?
Aeris… wake up… child of Cetra…
Umm…what?
You must finish your task.
Task?
Sephiroth… the fallen one…
Ohh… you mean Nefilim.
Child… you must wake up…
But I'm dead! I've been stabbed.
You must… wake… up…
Planet?…
Planet!
-----
There were despaired cries of "my son!", "my daughter!", "my child!" or something close to them. Gast looked around to find that there were no young people in sight but ones that were just about ready to be teens, teens, or just young children. Not one single person from about eighteen to thirty in sight. "Ifalna… we need to get to them!" he shouted over the din of the voices around them.
"We'll need a lot of power to move the debris!" she shouted back.
"Then… we'll need to call to all of them… won't we?" Gast put on a smile that Ifalna hadn't seen since Aeris was born.
-----
Earlier…
Tifa had recovered her breath and slowly crawled toward Aeris' body. "Aeris… Aeris…" she whispered, gently shaking the girl.
She grabbed her by the arms… they were still warm.
But corpses are warm a little while after they die… she thought, her skin crawling with fear.
She gently pulled the girl around and set her body to another site, where the ground was free of blood. The front of her pink satin dress was bloody and it seemed more blood was flowing from the wound.
"Tifa! What're you…" Yuffie exclaimed but was cut short.
"Shh!" she hissed, making a cutting motion and pointing to the fight between Cloud and Sephiroth.
Yuffie gave a weird look that said, "why the hell are you moving a dead body for?" And she gave a look back that said, "because she isn't quite dead". The ninja's mouth became a big 'O' and there were no more questions asked.
She put her hand on Aeris' nose. She could feel a faint, warm breath on her finger. "Still alive…" she muttered to herself, happy and yet surprised.
The martial artist checked the wound. Blood still spewed author's note: a little juicy don't you think? out at a quick rate. She quickly casted a heal spell on it (the strongest one she could muster) and the bleeding slowed. She checked her pockets, found a potion, and gently poured it onto Aeris' wound.
The blood flow had completely stopped. And as it did, Tifa realized where the real wound was. Just above the heart. With a wound to the heart, she would've died almost instantaneously. She had perhaps ruptured an aorta… but she would still be at risk of dying if she did not get immediate medical attention or get to a healer.
"You there!" she called out, to a Cetra girl who stood frozen, watching the fight between Sephiroth and Cloud.
The girl turned her head slowly, as if she were in a dream-like trance. Her eyes were bright, full of terror, and she seemed to not be able to grasp what she saw. She stared at Tifa for a long time, then pointed to her chest as if to say "you're calling to me?"
Tifa nodded.
The girl walked toward her, cautiously, her chestnut hair waving in the wind. She kneeled next to her and her hazel eyes gazed at her intently as if asking her what she wanted.
"Heal Aeris…" she whispered. "She's still alive."
The girl looked down at Aeris for a long time. She then looked at the wound and stared back at Tifa with a long, scared look. She was about to shake her head, but Tifa grabbed her by the collar, her bloodstained hands smudging onto the girl's white cotton shirt.
She opened her mouth to scream but Tifa shook her head. "Listen, girl. This is Aeris. She was the one that died for the Planet. Yes died. She's also one of my best friends. She's very hurt right now and I don't want to lose her for forever. Got it? So I would appreciate it lots if you would help me right now and heal the girl who died for the Planet… and yet got not credit for it. Care to help?" she said in a low growl.
The girl made a scared grunting noise in her throat and her eyes went wide and she nodded her head quickly.
"What's your name?" Tifa asked.
"A… Arriya (Ashort a-rai long I-ya)…" she squeaked.
"Can… can you heal her?"
The girl nodded her head again. She moved toward the unconscious Aeris and folded her hands and got on her knees. She closed her eyes and began the healing.
Arriya's hair slowly floated up with the power of the spell. She was amazed at how much power was in this frail girl. The power even hummed gently through her.
She looked wearily at Jenova, hoping that the monster wouldn't feel the power, but the alien was oblivious to anything but the fight between her 'sons'. She looked back toward Arriya.
She looked like Aeris when she was on the alter…
-----
The orangish flame wrapped around Cloud, signaling that he was going to use a limit break. Nefilim closed his eyes and prayed to the Cetra to forgive him and for hurting his mother to die like this…
Cloud smirked. This bastard deserved to die and he was going to enjoy ending all this.
He could feel the power surging through him… what thrill… to feel the power… the power of the true Cetra!
---
"Jared… this… this is crazy…" Ifalna hissed to him as he pushed her to the front of the crowd.
"Oh calm down, woman," the professor said, squeezing her shoulders in a husbandly manner.
Ifalna gave him a crazed look. "You're not the one doing this!"
He made a shush noise, and gave Ifalna a glance that told her to begin.
Ifalna cleared her throat. She had never felt this nervous in her life. Everyone's eyes seemed to be on her, and her knee began to quiver. "Uhh… may I have your attention, please!" she called out, and waited for everyone to be silent, but only some quieted and focused on her. She began again, trying to calm herself. "My daughter… Aeris… she is also trapped inside the tunnels. I ask you all to please listen to me!"
She looked back at Gast who nodded at her, and then she looked back at the crowd, which had finally given her their full attention.
"You all know Aeris. She was the one who had died to bring Holy to the Planet and was the one that sent the Lifestream toward Meteor when Holy wasn't enough."
"Shut up and get on with it!" someone in the crowd shouted.
She chose to ignore the comment, but her face flamed. "Err… anyways… I ask you all not to panic… but your children are also trapped behind there… with Jenova."
Many of the people in the crowd had shocked faces and some even gasped in horror. Some shouted in anger and others in horror and panic.
"People please!" she yelled, as the yelling got louder. "We all want to get to our children and get them out of there! Jenova is dangerous! I want to clear the rubble out of the way… but I am not strong enough! With our combine powers, we could clear all the debris out of the way, and we could go and save AVALANCHE! Will you be with me in this!"
"Yes!" the crowd chanted as one, though traces of panic were still left on their faces.
She got onto her knees, and as one, the crowd followed her. She raised her hands and folded them in prayer.
The crowd slowly followed, even the children knew how to do this.
Gast watched in amazement, as they all seemed to murmur a chant, one that sounded exactly the same. He looked around; he and Lucrecia were the only ones that were still standing.
The chant became a song, and it was beautiful. He watched Ifalna, her lips were also moving along with it. He could feel the power flowing from each of them… and gathering… and became a large bundle of it.
It moved as one toward the debris. Dust flew up and swirled into the air, and quickly, Gast and Lucrecia covered their faces. They looked down at the people. None of them had budged. They were still there, their hands folded in prayer, their hair flowing with the power emitting from them.
He could catch bits and pieces of the song, but it seemed to be in a different language. It had no harsh sounds in it to make it sound ugly… it was very flowing and it seemed to float right out of their mouths.
Gast found himself swaying to the rhythm of the music. He shook himself. He was here to save his child, not to dance along to the song of the Cetra.
Suddenly, there was a bright flash and Gast turned his face away, squeezing his eyes shut so he wouldn't be blinded.
When he looked back… the path was cleared.
Well… time to go… He thought… looking at the cleared path, knowing that evil was near.
-----
Aeris' wound was nearly all the way healed. Arriya's hands dropped to her sides and she let out a deep breath. Her energy had been nearly all spent. She slumped and looked back at Tifa, who had a smile on her face.
"Thank you," she whispered, looking back at Aeris. "Thank you very much."
Arriya didn't say anything. She knew that it wasn't over yet, Aeris still had yet to wake up.
Tifa heard a gasp. She looked down at Aeris, who was beginning to get her color back. "Aeris? Can you hear me?"
"Ugh…"
Tifa grew excited.
She's showing signs of life! She thought.
Slowly her eyes opened.
Everything was blurry to her face. Who was that? Looking over her? Long brown hair… was it Tifa?
"Aeris… are you feeling alright?" Tifa asked.
She tried to speak, but her lips gave a weak quiver. She shook her head to show she could not control her mouth. She looked back at the fight… and was shocked to see Cloud unleashing Omnislash upon Sephiroth.
-----
The blonde man jumped forward, Ultima weapon at the ready. He unleashed the ferocious move upon the other man, watching as the man flinched at each blow. He had an evil smirk on his face. He would make Mother proud.
-----
Aeris could feel her bottom lip trembling viciously. She wanted to scream and cry out. Every blow that Cloud struck upon Sephiroth was a gunshot to her heart… but all she could do was sit here and tremble.
-----
Nefilim put up his arms in weak defense. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out.
Just kill me now… He begged to whomever controlled his life.
Another slash… and then another…
I never remembered death to be this long… he thought. Death… please… take me now and ease the pain…
What was that smell?
He knew the answer before he even asked the question. It was the scent of fresh blood… and this time… it didn't smell so sweet.
His mind was whirling in confusion. He had tried to keep up with every slash and stab that Cloud gave.
He was dimly aware of his shoulder stinging… then his ribs… then everywhere…
"AHHH!"
-----
Nefilim's cry ripped through the air, cutting everyone close to him. Every Cetra and AVALANCHE member stood frozen. How could the man who had nearly been immortal… and had almost destroyed the Planet… be so… easily defeated?
-----
Cloud jumped back. He was satisfied with his work. Stinging cuts appeared all over Nefilim's body. Now for the finishing blow.
He looked back at his mother for approval. She tried to look scared… but failed miserably at it. She gave him a lazy wave of her tentacle, approving.
He then looked back at Nefilim… who looked dead on his feet. The man's silver hair was streaked with the dark red of blood. His shirt was cut up and also muddled with blood. He was holding onto a particularly deep wound to his left shoulder.
The blonde man savored this sweet moment. He held onto the Ultima weapon tightly, and slowly wiped his sweaty hands onto the back of his pants. He lazily scratched his messy hair and tried to look nonchalant… but inside… he didn't know why… but there was a dreading feeling of guilt.
He slowly brought up the Ultima weapon and charged up again… for the final blow.
-----
Cid watched as Cloud brought up the Ultima weapon as if he were an executioner. He could almost imagine Cloud saying to Sephiroth, "Do you have any last words?" He had a sinking feeling in his stomach… this was the end that everyone had hoped would not come.
"Aww, shit Cloud! Get over the damn dramatics and end it all!" Barret hollered, looking away, muttering curses under his breath.
Man… if I could only have one last cigarette before I die… he thought, almost chuckling, but restrained himself.
"This is not f---ing right," he found himself saying. "I don't even get a cigarette before I die."
"Shut up, Cid," Yuffie said coldly, in such a voice that was not her usual cheery self. "Don't you realize? This is the end! And now you're sitting here wanting a cigarette? What's wrong with you!"
"Aww nothin'," he grumbled. "Just fancied a cigarette…"
But really… he was just trying to delay Nefilim's death because he knew that this was not right.
-----
Nefilim watched. "Come on, Cloud. Bring it on!" he said in a voice that was hollow and sounded odd.
Maybe it was because he was wild… or just going plain crazy. He didn't know.
Cloud charged forward and leaped up high into the air. Everyone's eyes followed him up.
Nefilim looked up. It was the perhaps the last thing he'd ever see… but yet… he had a feeling of inner peace. Maybe it would be good to just be… gone forever.
His lips curved into a sad smile as the blonde man brought the sword down.
Maybe everything will be alright…
And he embraced the blackness of death.
Thanks to everyone who read this and reviewed this story. And especially Yuka-san who has been faithfully reading and reviewing this story! Thanks so much! And oops... another cliffy. -0