A Past Long Forgotten

Chapter 16: Learning to Heal

This is the disclaimer: I don't own FF7 or any of that copywrited stuff. This is just for fun and enjoyment!

The next few moments were a blur. The white light was so blinding that Cloud and Tifa had both shielded their eyes. Cloud had protectively drawn Tifa against his chest, shielding her with his body. Vincent stood close by; even with his altered body and enhanced vision he could not see.

A loud clatter reached their ears, and then the light slowly faded. Tifa gasped as she caught a glimpse of Aeris.

Aeris was cradling something in her small hands that was emitting the very bright white light. The light escaped through the cracks in her fingers and traveled around the room, casting light in all directions- especially on the flower girl.The glowmade her look unearthly.

"Planet… Thank you," Aeris was looking at the small object with awe, pleased that the apparent gift from the heavens had matierialized. She knew what to do.

"The white materia…" Vincent began, wondering how Aeris could use the object to help Sephiroth.

Sephiroth had dropped his sword and was kneeling on the ground. Slender fingers were clutching his face and he was shaking. Never before had Cloud or Tifa seen the steadfast warrior look so broken. He was battling with himself and his emotions; he didn't know what to do or who to believe.

Some of Cloud's hatred faded away watching the fallen warrior. Tifa clung to him; she was afraid of what would happen next.

"Sephiroth," Aeris spoke softly, approaching him cautiously but with purpose, "I said earlier… since I remembered my past I wondered why the planet restored us both to life. I am certain of the reason now." Having the white materia seemed to change Aeris. Something about her was glowing; she was more confident and strong. The planet was guiding her- it's last child.

Sephiroth didn't seem to respond. He was struggling on fighting all of his inner demons and wondering who he was or where he came from. Jenova's voice seemed very far away now. He was losing touch of it completely. Since Aeris had entered the room he had felt a nagging feeling… especially now that she looked so ethereal- clutching the white material and glowing with the planet's energy. Now he was unsure of all of his purposes.

Aeris kneeled beside him, gently taking his hand. She pulled it away from his face, urging him to look up at her. Still trembling, he looked up at her; he was terrified. But her hand felt so warm… his presence so comforting.

"It was meant to be this way, Seph. The planet wanted us to find each other." She spoke so softly that no one else could hear. "I can help you. Give you a chance to know the truth- you deserve another chance. You can set things right."

He didn't answer. He wasn't even entirely positive of who she was or what she wanted. Half of him yearned to tear her hand from his grasp; the other half longed to pull her into an embrace. He wanted desperately to believe her.

Aeris opened her other hand and revealed the white materia. Its glow had dulled slightly but it still cast light between the two of them almost eerily.

"I can show you," Aeris began. She closed her eyes tightly in concentration. Sephiroth was unsure how to respond; something about the girl made him want to trust in her. The white material began to glow more brightly again.

"Just keep holding my hand, Seph." She urged him, "I'll help you understand everything. Close your eyes."

He nodded and obeyed; he leaned closer to her, grasping her hand tightly as he closed his eyes…

Almost immediately visions began to appear in his head. Though usually he mused about what Jenova told him to- these visions were not full of death or destruction. They held no questions about whether or not he could become a god.

Instead he saw the familiar white walls of ShinRA labs. This time he was not afraid. He saw a woman in a labcoat with a kind face. Her hair was tied back in a neat ponytail and wire rimmed glasses were perched on her nose. She was pregnant. She bustled about the labs, talking to her baby once in awhile.

"This is your real mother, Sephiroth… your birth mother- her name was Lucrecia." Aeris' voice interrupted his thoughts.

"My mother…?" Sephiroth questioned, unsure as to how Jenova played into it.

"That's right… and Hojo was your father," Aeris continued, "Lucrecia was Hojo's wife… though I am certain he never loved her as he should have."

Sephiroth searched his feelings. He hated Hojo for how the mad scientist had raised him, but a part of him felt comforted knowing his parents were real… and human.

Sephiroth paid attention to the visions in his mind again. He watched as Lucrecia sat on an examination table and Hojo entered the room with a long needle. Lucrecia looked slightly concerned… but complied when Hojo spoke to her. He forced the needle into her abdomen…

"Hojo wanted to experiment on you before you were even born, Sephiroth… he injected Jenova cells into you and your mother…" Aeris spoke. Sephiroth sensed Aeris' negative feelings about the scientist in her voice.

"Lucrecia died just after you were born… had she lived, things might have been different for you." Aeris spoke with sadness in her voice. "I remember meeting Lucrecia in the lifestream after I died… all she wanted was for you to be saved."

Sephiroth saw his mother dying, pleading with Hojo to hold her baby- her son. Hojo denied her the right and scolded her for being weak. He merely watched as Lucrecia died in the delivery room. His eyes seemed to gleam with excitement at his son. Sephiroth inwardly cringed. He knew that look- it was that which Hojo gave to his sick experiments.

"You know the rest of the story, Sephiroth… Hojo raised you in the labs… he experimented on you to try and turn you into a super soldier. He polluted your mind with lies about your origins. Truthfully, if anyone is to blame for your past actions- it should be Hojo." Sephiroth heard those last words in his mind and felt his mental connection with Aeris and his past break. The lab, Lucrecia and Hojo seemed to fade away.

Slowly, the visions in Sephiroth's mind faded away and he opened his eyes. Aeris was looking at him with tears in her eyes. Long moments of silence followed.

"Why... are you crying?" He asked her finally, tearing his eyes from hers.

"I feel the pain you endured, Sephiroth… It must have been horrible growing up in a place so alone like that… being taught nothing but the importance of fighting… and not knowing who you are or where you belong." Aeris looked nothing but sincere. "And there is more of your past that you can learn… all I want is to help you."

Sephiroth looked up at her again. He was surprised to see the genuine acceptance and sincerity in her eyes. Then he cringed, feeling Jenova making her presence known.

"What is is?" Aeris looked concerned. She placed a hand on his arm; some of his pain faded.

"Jenova…" Sephiroth sighed, confused again.

"Let me heal you," Aeris began, "I can use holy to take care of the Jenova cells inside you…"

Sephiroth looked unsure- but he trusted her. Thinking once again of his true mother and then the haunting memories of Nibelheim in flames and the many people he'd killed… he nodded. For once in his life, he would let someone help him.

Author's notes:

Hello friends, readers, writers and everybody. I think one or two more chapters and this will be done. There was one other thing I wanted to really do- and I think I've found a way to incorporate it… then there has to be a resolution. I was torn between making this a happy or a tragic ending- I'm not telling you which it will be! Hope I don't disappoint you- I'm working as fast as I can without making it dull.

Thank you again for reviews and support. Lots of love and happy summertime!

Bri