Journey Four – Reflections
He was in a field of roses, where though it is such a peaceful moment to have a perfect blue sky with a few clouds, it was also melancholic that he was alone. All alone without everyone.
Where am I? – Sephiroth thought to himself, unaware he was walking at the same time – I see nothing, but a field of roses.
He was walking to nowhere, uninformed how long he walked for seconds, minutes, maybe hours or God forbid, days. Until he stopped at the end, where he saw a tree; leaves bristled by the wind and underneath the enclosed branches, a girl kneeling down on the ground and stroking a brown rabbit. She looked like twelve, with light brown eyes, European face and long, dark chestnut brown hair.
Then she looked at him, but instead of screaming of impending doom, she smile to him, showing a relief to Sephiroth that there's at least another person who wasn't afraid of him.
"You've got a lovely wing." She spoke with a gentle, calm voice for the first time. "Tell me, what's your name?"
"Uh, pardon?(!)" politely exclaimed Sephiroth. "Oh, my name. It's Sephiroth."
"Sephiroth, huh? That's a beautiful name for a person like you."
"Uh, thanks. I've never expected someone like you to take a complement. However, I don't know your name, besides ever meeting you, if I recall."
"You're welcome and my name's Jehovah."
"Jehovah!"
"Yes." She nodded to him, being polite to him. "And I thank you for giving me birth out to the sky."
"But why did you appear to my dream, only when I see you as a big robot!"
"Don't worry, Sephiroth. All will become clear later on, but first, you must do me a favour."
"…"
"When you wake up from this dream, you must protect the one your heart is destined to."
"Yes, but I don't have one!"
"Yes, you do. Remember your first encounter with her?"
"…My first encounter?"
Sephiroth's bedroom, Vatican
He sat up quickly and began to wake. Much to his disappoint, he was still in hyperspace, via that landscape window about thirty centimetres away from him and that bed, that was enroute to the Amano Solar System. His head was a little fuzzy, but the last time he had was when everyone agreed to get the objects from Terra and back. Simple as that. Then, the door opened itself automatically to reveal Aerith as she was holding some stacks of clothes – maybe for him.
"Haven't ever heard of knocking door, before entering?" Sephiroth asked in a sarcastic way.
"No, but it's harder to get used to Bach's technology than the Gummi ones." Giggled Aerith calmly as she put some clothes down on the futuristic desk and turned to his attention. "Eliza told me that since our clothes have gotten dirty, she gave us some to put us on."
"Why can't she do that herself?"
"Well, let's just say, she's 'too busy doing some modifications on YESHUA' or something. Oh, and one more thing. She gave me this." Aerith threw of what is the sheath for Masamune to Sephiroth as he perfectly caught it, while stood up from the bad. "She said this is for Masamune, since after some research, you can sheath it in, regardless of the length."
"Wait, how did she know that?"
"You ask her, not me! I'm not good at science!" And then, she left. Sephiroth looked at the medium-large-ish sheath Eliza made for his Masamune and it felt smooth, thanks to its black lacquer finishing and at the end there were simple, yet effective platinum designs of Chinese dragons spiralling each other. At Sephiroth's grip, was silky, yet firm thick strings that can be tied securely.
At least, she has good artisanship in sheaths. He thought and afterwards proceeded to the clothes that Aerith provided. Fortunately, the garments were the same colour as he wore before, yet instead of his trench coat, this was Japanese male attire. …And has good taste in fashion, surprisingly. Though, why would she choose this?
Bridge, Vatican
"So, how long we have to bore ourselves, till we reach the Amano Solar System, again?" Bach repeatedly asked with more moans than a person complaining about a lack of flavour into food, as he looked at the screen, still in hyperspace mode, in front of the central command system.
"For the last hundredth time, in about TEN MINUTES!" Adrian finally outbursts in anger, behind Bach's position on the navigation control unit.
"Actually Adrian, it's around fifteen minutes." Recalled one of the Martyrs below, as she typing.
"Yeah and we've about a hour away to Terra guys." Explained Rufus with a dull expression on his face on the planet navigation unit, also behind him.
"Sheesh. Bach, if you are going to complain about space travel, why can't you go into the tourism business?" suggested Zack, as he was piloting the Vatican below Bach's position.
"Hey! I can do whatever I want! Who told you to be the boss of all-things alternative!"
Unfortunately for Bach to carry on lingering useless rants to the crew on the bridge, Aerith's voice can be heard, as the whirring noise of the lift took to the bridge.
"Wow! I never knew the bridge could be bigger than the Gummi version of it!"
Bach and the rest of the crew, except for the Martyrs, obviously as they have their roles to perform, were astonished that apart from Alda just walking out to check out the progression, how different both Aerith and Sephiroth looked as they walked in front of Bach.
Firstly, Sephiroth looked more of a samurai, despite there's still his black wing trademark on his back, he wore jet-black hakama trousers – though underneath it, he still wore his knee-length boots – two layers of robes wrapped around his body and arms, one plain white behind and deep crimson in front covered by a black hari, tied neatly in place. What has noticeable to him, was that he was gloveless and for the first time, Masamune and its sheath are being bound to his left hip part of his hakama trousers.
And Aerith. By gods she looked more beautiful and comfortable wearing that! Aside from a plain pink tee shirt combined with red, embroidered sleeveless top and covered with a cherry cotton cardigan; her almost-ankle-length pink with flower-design skirt was slightly more loose that was suited to run around like this in dangerous situations. The only parts she didn't seem to change was her boots, her blue belt, the bangles underneath her cardigan and that chocker-like bow necklace.
The only person spoke to the two individuals' change of clothes was Bach, though only more slowly.
"Did…Eliza…put…them…for…you?"
"Uh, yes." Aerith replied, though she was confused about the position of why everyone has gone silent "But, what's with that look all of the sudden?"
"Uh, nothing. That Eliza surely has good taste in fashion and colour. Speaking of which, where is she?"
"I'm right behind you!" shouted Eliza's voice, as she and YESHUA soon followed the party. "So, any news on the position on the course, Bach?"
"In detail, what I see here is nothing but blurry stars."
"Bach, we're still in hyperspace." Remarked Adrian.
"What? Sigh, we're nowhere near Terra then."
"Don't you start complaining rubbish again…"
"Hey guys!" exclaimed Rufus as he sat up from his chair. "I think we're in Terra's position now! Hey, Martyrs! Stop hyperspace now!"
"Yes, sir." Replied them.
As soon as the hyperspace disappearance and entered the blanket of stars, Terra was there. Magnificent, yet quiet and worse when coming on surface. However, there were signs of life – land, some green, brown; grey with a hint of white and desert yellow and the rest was pure blue ocean.
"Wow, I've never seen Terra this big and beautiful!" amazed Aerith as she looked at the planet's size.
"The only problem is, where are we going to land, not to mention where are the two people who are carrying the objects?" asked Sephiroth in an intelligent manner as he crossed his arms.
"Don't worry. According to the computer, the two objects are presently going to what is known as the Lost City of the Cetras or Ancients and we can land near it, as soon as possible".
Lost City of Ancients, Terra
The environment was lonely. It looked more alien than the other parts as the party first stepped on to the land, since there was no need for MAs and the atmosphere was safe for them to breathe.
"Now I know why they called it lost." Aerith remarked sadly, walking behind YESHUA and Eliza, who were first in line. Behind the woman was in pink was Adrian, followed by Rufus, then jointly Alda and Bach and finally Sephiroth, who was 'checking on the party', as well as looking out for surprises.
"According to the positions from the bridge," emotionlessly explained YESHUA as he was still walking "one of the objects is around one metre away, whereas the other object, I cannot specify this."
"What!" exclaimed Bach. "Wait, I thought you know where the two objects were and you're still not found that!"
"Bach, please shut up!" Eliza quietly exclaimed as she was still walking "YESHUA only spots our objectives when he picks up detail and besides, he's not some Super Robot that automatically detects far away stuff! Ah, there we are."
The party stopped to see this strange big shell building and next to it was a pure blue lake. Each one was amazed about the way the Cetras built, despite themselves were in the brink of extinction.
"I wonder if I call contact an architect nearby." Joked Bach, as he stood still and looked at the beauty of the building.
"Bach, this isn't the time to play jokes at this time around." Groaned Adrian as he mentally slapped his head.
Inside the Ancients or Cetra Building, Terra
After a surprisingly quick trip to the flight of stairs that led to the interior of the building, the party managed to enter another beautiful and melancholic large room that has water and strange towers leading up to the supposed altar. However, in the midst of the quiet atmosphere, Aerith found someone that she found to be most shocking yet.
"No way!" She exclaimed as she looked closely to the person on the altar and placed her hands on her mouth. "That can't be me! Well, except for the clothes. I mean, her face, she looks like me!"
"What!" Bach, soon followed the exclamation "Wait, so there are two Aeriths now!"
"Bach, I think you're over-exaggerated a bit." Rufus alleged with frustration. "So, Alda, has that chick got one of our treasures?"
"I bet you're right, Rufus." Replied Alda with a hint of happiness.
Behind the party, Sephiroth heard something that only he could hear from a bat's hearing distance.
"Someone's coming from where I'm standing."
"WHAT!" They exclaimed with surprise.
"It's best that we should hide somewhere the oncoming party won't be suspicious."
"Yeah, for once Sephiroth." Regrettably moaned Bach. "You're probably right about that."
"So what's the plan of getting that object from her?" Alda asked quietly with some concern that obtaining one of them might not be easier than told.
"We have to look at the situation first, before deciding the course for action." Adrian whispered the answer.
It was a good idea for the party to hide, where the oncoming party was never suspicious they were there, but a bad one as they were standing on water.
Oh, why can't Bach just let us hide in a dry place? Adrian thought with some bitterness that his friend was lousy as being captain.
Then something happened as the party caught their eyes. An adult male with spiky blonde hair jumped on each tower, clutching with his huge sword and when he reached the altar, he was ready to strike on the girl!
"NO!" Aerith, with tears running, tried to shout quietly and ran towards the girl to warn, but Sephiroth grabbed by her left arm. "Sephiroth, let me go! I've got to save her!"
"And let some people from over there get into turmoil with us, while you're defenceless without a weapon?" he warned with concern and cold face. "Aerith, we have no choice! If you expose yourself to them, they'll be confused on which one is the person on the altar and the mission goes bust."
"But…" Then she saw his sad, bright green eyes that was full of concern for her safety. She tried temporarily to hold back her tears. "…all right, if you say so, Sephiroth."
Aerith still looked at the current situation and was relieved that the spiky blonde person put his sword down. Then out of surprise for a few moments, another person came down from nowhere and did the most horrendous event that Aerith screamed quietly. However, YESHUA jolted his head and announced:
"That person also carries another object."
"What!" quietly exclaimed everyone.
"There is 99.99 percent probability that he carries the same object as the girl, though only now in the location of the deep section."
"So, anyway plans for action Sephiroth?" Adrian softly suggested as he was fed up with Bach's approach.
"Yes, but it requires precise timing and full cooperation." He replied with confidence.
"You bastard!" Cloud gasped as he picked up the now lifeless Aeris. "WHY DID YOU KILLED HER?"
"She was a threat, dear brother." Sephiroth slyly chuckled as he looked upon his 'dear brother'. "By killing her, she can no longer summon Holy to our world."
"You can't be ser…" Cloud was interrupted when a tranquilizer coming out of nowhere was hit on his neck, sending him into unconscious. And soon a bullet of tranquilizers came into Cloud's party and the silver hair man was confused and angry about something went awry. Suddenly, he saw a black blur incoming to him and though he successfully defended, he was actually surprised by this stranger's appearance as he landed on the wall.
A black wing! He thought to himself angrily His face, his eyes. He looks like me!
The Sephiroth on the wall chuckled as he is in the position to unsheathe Masamune. "So, you must be Jenova's boy."
"Okay, let me get this straight." Alda remarked as she replaced her cartridges from her back that was loaded onto her guns. "Sephiroth told me to send those people to dreamland with 6-hour tranquilizer bullets and while he can distract that person and attempts to take that object, Eliza orders YESHUA to go to the deep end and get another? Wow, that's one risky strategy for the One Winged Angel."
"Well, you wouldn't call him a bad luck for nothing." Aerith replied as she helped Eliza on configuring YESHUA's position down under water.
"Gah!" Eliza frustratingly exclaimed as she had some problems typing on water. "And YESHUA's only five hundred metres away to the object!"
"And what do the rest of us get?" Bach complained. Fortunately for him, some hideous alien appeared from nowhere as it has decided to gatecrash the conversation. "On second thought…"
"All right, let's party!" Rufus happily exclaimed as he whipped out his shotgun from behind and Alda positioned her guns at the strange alien.
"For once, Rufus. I agree." Adrian replied as he picked his scrolls from his blue sleeves from his Chinese suit and got into position.
"What the hell!" Bach soon followed that as he picked up his beloved guitar from his back. "Aerith! Eliza! Keep doing the work, while we're distract this gatecrasher!"
Clash after clash with both Masamunes clinging on to each other, Sephiroth tried everything to get off guard to the other Sephiroth, who showed a valiant resistance.
Dammit! I've never met someone this strong, the same as mine!
Eventually, the other Sephiroth was angry to see that he met someone who has the same strength as he is in terms of power.
"Who are you and why did you intervene!" The other Sephiroth demanded the black wing person as he cast Bolt3 on to him.
"I am known as the carrier of destruction to this world as I've landed to this surface." Sephiroth announced calmly as he let his Masamune absorbed the Bolt3's magic and got into his offence position. "I am known as the One Winged Angel – Sephiroth!" And he strike his Bolt3 slash onto the person in black with some damage, though he valiantly fought back, only the One Winged Angel had to go on defence with his Masamune and some coverage to his black wing.
"Sephiroth! Oh that's good! There can't be two of me! Why aren't you with my mother!"
CLANG!
"I don't think your mother would ever been infecting with her sickly cells inside of me."
CLANG!
"Don't insult my mother, you black wing scum!"
CLANG!
"Oh, yeah. Would ever your mother be appearing somewhere here? Saying hello to my acquaintances?"
CLANG!
"Oh yes. She's here enjoying a 'conversation' with your friends right now!"
"Drat!" exclaimed Rufus as he was narrowly dodged by pink blob's tentacles. "She's a tough nut to crack!"
"Yeah and those tentacles are giving me a headache!" shouted Alda as she intercepted the oncoming tentacles with her bullets.
Bach meanwhile, stayed down, plucked his strings and let his wires do the work as he try to protect Aerith and Eliza from the alien's attacks.
"Dammit Eliza! How long does YESHUA have to swim that deep!" Bach shouted struggling to keep his wires intervening the alien's magic attacks.
"He's only got the object Bach and swimming back takes around approximately the same as diving down!" replied Eliza with some elements of panic as she was struggling to look at her laptop "Besides…"
Before the battle
"Uh, are you sure?" Eliza nervously asked. "You might be called the One Winged Angel that carries bad luck, but isn't that a risky strategy?"
"Do we have a choice?" Sephiroth replied coldly. "Anyone has an alternative plan that doesn't involve death?"
"I'm not into violence, but I'm agreeing with him as a last resort." Aerith said with melancholy in her eyes.
"Sigh, it might be a risky strategy, but I hope it'll work." Bach agreed as well.
"Yeah, I'll second that to Master Sephiroth." Adrian also agreed.
"Me three." Rufus settled as he loaded his bullets to his shotgun.
"Maybe some bad luck might pay the work off." Alda decided without a second of hesitation.
"Sephiroth's strategy would be the only correct and effective method to do." YESHUA explained with some elements of agreement. "I have calculated the probability of seventy-five point four five percent of success."
"So, is anyone agree to do this?" Sephiroth asked with confidence. Everyone, including Eliza and Aerith, raise their hand up, showing that his strategy can succeed. "Good and Eliza, could you do me a favour?"
"Huh? What do you want me to do?"
"Take care of Aerith, while I'll distract him and try to take that item from him."
"Uh, okay."
"WHAT! Sephiroth made you to take care of Aerith!" Bach exclaimed as he side-stepped away from more magic attacks and intercepted with his wire, via plucking his strings from his electric guitar.
"Bach! Less talk, more action!" Adrian shouted, while he kicked one of the limbs and produced a line of fire from one of his scrolls that soon exploded.
Aerith couldn't be sure whether she should help either them or Sephiroth, but when she looked at the latter, she found the One Winged Angel was just barely in defence as the other Sephiroth was winning by miles and the other one was quickly behind the defending Sephiroth as he was ready to strike down. What was her option, save Sephiroth from incoming death or be defenceless and let him die?
"SEPHIROTH, BEHIND YOU!" She cried with all her heart out.
What could Aerith mean behind me…Sephiroth, the One Winged Angel version, thought, until his head just jolted out …Unless she's telling me danger's just around the corner!
He dodged the other Sephiroth's slash and jumped to safety by a hair's breadth, only to lose a few black feathers and slit on his left cheek dripping his own blood. However, unnoticed to the One Winged Angel, the other Sephiroth noticed something bizarre when he looked at Aerith!
'Mother!' He mentally cried to his 'mother' Jenova. 'That Cetra is still alive there!'
'WHAT?' Jenova exclaimed mentally
'Yes, it's true! So, I didn't killed the last one after all.'
'That's impossible! You've already the last Cetra and yet that bitch is still here!'
'But she has got friends to protect herself.'
'Just get them out of your way and kill her again for your mother's sake!'
'Yes, mother. I will do anything for you!'
After a 'nice' conversation, the other Sephiroth decided to ignore the One Winged Angel version of himself, directly summoned Aero3 to Bach and Eliza's positions, to which Bach's wires failed to intercept such commanding magic, ending up with her knocked on the wall and his wires themselves tied the two unlucky people. Now, it was Aerith alone – defenceless and without any single weapon – now that is perfect.
When Sephiroth found out on what the other one was doing, he dived down to the ground and protecting Aerith, no matter what are his own consequences are for the damage for only a few seconds.
Dammit! I don't care what are the bloody consequences are for me! Aerith's weapon-less and defenceless and she needs me! I don't know why she drives me to protect her, but if I don't do it for her and…maybe Jehovah, I'll hang my head in shame.
Meanwhile, Aerith in her full of tears and fears, screamed for her life. The problem was, she was temporarily paralysed thanks to her kneeling down with Eliza too much and looking in terror as that edge of the sharp sword was oncoming on her stomach.
Oh no! I'm paralysed! I can't move! And worse, I'm going to be killed like that girl!
However, through the imagination of Aerith's eyes, she saw a light. A light that draws a young girl with an European face and kneel toward her.
"Do not worry." She spoke in a soft voice. "The one who saved you will protect you."
But how do you know my thoughts?
"You must believe in yourself and him that you will be saved from this fate." And then she faded slowly.
Wait!
Then the moment has arrived and everything was standing still.
STAB!
Author's Notes: Ooh, a cliffhanger! To be honest, I was doing an one-off to do the chapter in the FF7 world, but then it proved too long and split it into a 'two-part episodes' plot. And yes, I did intentionally make Aerith and Sephiroth change clothes from their Kingdom Hearts counterparts, because when I looked at Aerith's clothes I thought that she must have felt uncomfortable wearing like for the rest of the journey and the same can be heard for Sephiroth. So, I made the clothes as described from the two paragraphs of their new clothes. And if anyone is asking me why Sephiroth is dressing up like a samurai, play (or buy or rent, then play) Xenosaga Episode II, be as Jin Uzuki and you'll get the idea.
As for the action scenes, you'll do that in your imagination from your head and see what happens to Rufus, Alda and Adrian.
And I thank once again to readers and Aeriseph fans who like to read this fanfiction. Without you, I'll lose interest big time. Next subject – The clothes for the characters, except for Aerith and Sephiroth who I already did that and Bach too. And sorry for Japanese culture fans, if I got the names wrong for the clothes.
Reviews equal good as long as it's not flames. Anti-Aeriseph messages equals bad; they are immature people who won't accept a new minority in the FF7 and KH community.