A/N: Wow! Thanks for the all the reviews already. I'm glad people are reading and liking this story, especially as I'm taking extreme care to re-write it to the best of my ability. It inspired me to get this chapter up so fast. So please, keep keep reviewing! Trust me, it helps

Enjoy...

Chapter 2

Aeris was staring out of the Lifestream, down at the Planet where every passing second was bringing it nearer to its destruction. She shook her head back and forth, and a soft sigh escaped her lips.

Why did it have to end like this? The Lifestream passed outside the window of her confines, bubbling and churning as if there was not a think to be worried about. Soon everything would be gone... the Planet would be demolished, and the Lifestream would certainly go with it. What would happen to all the souls in it?

Aeris shivered at the thought. She wondered if the Cetra knew yet that Holy was not succeeding. There wasn't much they could do anyway, she supposed. They were safe in the Promised Land, and had sent their last daughter to help stop the destruction that was foreseen. Yet she had failed, and Aeris closed her eyes at this thought, feeling the tingle of hot tears stinging the backs of her eyes.

She gathered a deep breath to calm herself, turning to look at the young woman who was still kneeling on the floor with her knees gathered to her chest. Tayeko, the woman called herself, half Cetra, just like Aeris. Yet she claimed to know nothing of being a Cetra, knew nothing of her abilities or bred link to the Planet.

How could she be blamed? Her mother died when she was too young to remember her. At least, Aeris thought sadly, that she'd had a few years with Mama before she'd been snatched away. Ifalna had taken care to teach Aeris whatever she could about her heritage in that short time.

Aeris let out a tiny cry of frustration, thinking how cruel it was that two Cetra could be caged like this while the Planet was moments away from Death, and be helpless to stop it. It wasn't fair, and the more Aeris dwelt on it, the angrier it made her.

"Tayeko," she called. "I really need you to help me."

Tayeko lifted her head and looked at Aeris, who still stood by the glass, her green eyes smoldering and her mouth turned in a frown. Shaking her head, Tayeko turned back away from her.

"I don't know what you expect me to do," she said quietly, her voice shaking as though on the verge of tears. "I am as useless to you as a regular human."

Aeris sighed and walked over to her, stopping a foot behind the raven haired woman.

"Why don't you stop feeling sorry for yourself?"

Tayeko turned to her then. "What?"

Aeris crossed her arms over her breasts. "You heard me. Stop acting so pitiful. I know that you are stronger than that."

Tayeko gave a short, sardonic laugh then, abruptly turning her head away. "Don't act like you know me."

Aeris gritted her teeth. This girl was so frustrating! Why did she have such a nasty attitude, anyway? If she didn't know better, Aeris might have slapped her.

"Look," Aeris spoke again, trying her best not to let Tayeko's coldness deter her. "I'm not pretending to know you. I just have a gift when it comes to reading people, I guess. I'm an excellent judge of character."

"Whatever."

Aeris narrowed her eyes. "You know, you are very rude, Miss Tayeko!"

Tayeko finally turned to her again, smiling for the first time, even if it were just a small one. "Did you figure that out when you were judging my character?"

Aeris leveled her gaze with Tayeko's. Little did Tayeko know, Aeris Gainsborough was not easily swayed.

"Tayeko..."

Tayeko merely stared back at her, and Aeris was sure that behind the flippant remarks was a sad and lonely woman who lacked any inkling of self confidence. Yet as Aeris gazed into her dark, violet eyes, she was sure she would be able to penetrate that exterior.

"Listen. I'm not asking for us to be friends. You don't really seem to like me much. And that's fine, I guess. But I really wish you would do me this one favor. If you are half cetra, as you say -"

"Of course I am!" Tayeko snapped.

"Good," Aeris said, giggling. "Then you can help me to stop Meteor. If we pray, we can move the Lifestream. It can rise out of the earth. This I know. I can't watch the Planet be destroyed, Tayeko, and you are the only one who can help me. I can't... I can't do it alone. "

Tayeko merely stared at her, seemingly watching Aeris' lips move. She said nothing, just ran a hand absently through her ebony hair.

"I have friends and family that I care about," Aeris continued, her voice hushed. "Just help me do this, and at least we can return and rest in peace. Who knows what will happen to us if the Planet is destroyed.

Tayeko continued staring at her, but it seemed to Aeris that her eyes softened a bit. She sighed.

"Alright... I'll help you. But don't expect it to do any good."

Aeris simply nodded. "Well, we better hurry." She knelt on the floor beside Tayeko and reached a hand out to her. Tayeko glared for a second before slowly reaching out and taking it with her own.

"Just close your eyes, and believe," Aeris said. "Listen to my prayer, and repeat the words. If the Planet hear's us, we can move the Lifestream."

Tayeko said nothing. She closed her eyes, just as Aeris said, and listened to the gentle whispers that escaped her lips.

As Aeris prayed and prayed, Tayeko opened one eye to peek at the Lifestream. It did seem to be bubbling, shifting slightly as if moving to their words. Tayeko shut her eyes again, and tried to keep up with Aeris' rapid words, which seemed to physically weaken both of the young Cetra.

After what seemed an eternity, Aeris dropped Tayeko's hand forcefully and leaned over, gasping. She braced herself by placing a palm to the cold floor in front of her.

"We're too weak!" Aeris exclaimed in desperation, and a sob followed suit. Tayeko felt that she was flushed in the face, and felt her forehead to find she was perspiring. How could praying cause such exhaustion?

"I knew it," she mumbled.

Aeris began bawling then, tears of anguish streaming down her cheeks, which were now bright red. She gathered herself to her feet and scrambled to the window of Lifestream, peering down at the destruction below once again. Nothing had changed, and time was running out.

"I've failed, Planet!" she cried, the reality of the situation falling on her like a bag of bricks. She felt like she was suffocation, and gasped through air through her cries.

Now the stupid girl is making herself hyperventilate, Tayeko thought, pulling her eyes away from Aeris' display of misery. She brought her knees up to her chest and laid her head upon them, awaiting the next torment Death would bring to her.

A loud clang caused her to lift her head sharply then, and Aeris turned a tear-stained face around in alarm.

"What was that?" she asked in trepidation, looking around. "What's happening?"

The clambering continued, practically shaking their little room. Tayeko rose to her feet.

"I think someone is coming..."

There was a bright flash of light then, and both women covered their eyes to avoid being blinded. As the light slowly dissipated, Aeris and Tayeko could make out the faint lines of two figures forming.

The light suddenly spilled away as quickly as it came, and in awe, and fear, the two Cetra stared at the figures.

"My..." Aeris began, her hand coming to her throat. "Planet?" She felt her body growing hot. Before her stood the Soul of the Planet, the beautiful woman she's seen so often in her dreams, and had spoken to in her mind for as long as she could remember. And next to her...

"Sephiroth?" Tayeko gasped in utter astonishment.

The planet was smiling, her charge standing behind her, still dressed in simple black and gray clothing. Upon hearing his name, he turned to look at Tayeko, his green eyes widening in shock. He turned away from her, avoiding looking at Aeris either.

"Aeris, and Tayeko," the Planet spoke then, her voice soft yet deeply powerful. Aeris was staring at her in reverence.

Tayeko was all but confused. Her eyes darted back and forth between Aeris, the Planet, and Sephiroth, Sephiroth, who stood tall, his face turned away from all of them. He held his head up high, his bright green eyes glowing. His hands lay still at his sides; his breathing was even and calm.

"Aeris, you worked reverently to stop the evil that is at this very moment, trying to destroy me," The Planet spoke. "But Holy has failed me, and I need you to aid me once again."

"Of course," Aeris said. She afforded a quick glance at Sephiroth, who seemed to be doing his best to ignore everyone around him. She searched his eyes as best she could, trying to find any sliver of the insanity she'd seen in them the last time she'd seen him. Yet she found nothing, his eyes were not crazed, they were as normal as can be, save for a slight glint of annoyance.

"Tayeko, you did not ever have a chance to connect with me," The Planet said. "You will help Aeris stop this evil.

Tayeko couldn't speak. She was torn between the magnitude of seeing Sephiroth in front of her, and the very soul of the Planet issuing orders to her. She simply stared, her mouth hanging open in stupefaction.

The Planet turned away then, facing Sephiroth, who still stared elsewhere, hoping he'd go unnoticed.

"And you," The Planet spoke loudly then, "Will help as well, as part of Penance for your sins. After this. You will be responsible for aiding my last two Cetra in stopping the forthcoming of evil, and for protecting them as they protect me."

Sephiroth raised an eyebrow at this, but could bring himself to say nothing. It was Aeris who spoke.

"Planet! What forthcoming of evil? And is, is he..."

"Do not worry, little one," The Planet said. "You will be safe, and I am always with you."

"But -"

"Go now!" The Planet exclaimed, giving Aeris not another chance to speak. "Banish the Evil."

Another bright flash of light came, and the trio of Aeris, Tayeko, and Sephiroth shielded their eyes from it. When it died down, the Planet was gone. Silence reigned then.

Aeris looked as Sephiroth, whose eyes were fixated on Tayeko. He completely ignored Aeris, as if she wasn't even present.

Tayeko's lips were still parted in consternation, staring at Sephiroth, thousands of thoughts burning through her mind. Yet she couldn't find her voice. She merely stared.

"Hm." Sephiroth spoke for the first time. "It's been a while since I've seen you."

Aeris was surprised when she saw Tayeko's face blush a deep shade of red then. The raven haired girl blinked and gathered herself to speak.

"Sephiroth..."

Sephiroth turned his eyes away from her then, unsure of what to say or how to react. It had been a decade since he'd last laid eyes on this girl. Her beauty had only multiplied in that time - and Sephiroth recalled she had been very beautiful then.

Something pulled inside of Sephiroth chest, a tiny pain that he ignored. He could not allow himself to resurrect feelings he may have had when they were children. After all, they were only friends even then, and now, Sephiroth had no interest in any woman, regardless of beauty or charm. Even if her eyes still that haunting shade of orchid, if her hair was as black as the night sky, if her skin was a pale and perfect as a stone of ivory. He felt a charge as he stared at her, her now womanly and voluptuous form still wearing that rag of a dress she'd been murdered in... He commanded his mind to stop thinking of her in such away, and abruptly tore his burning eyes from the sight of her. The Planet was right in doing this to him, he thought, it was quiet ironic. Dangling in front of him a creature he once coveted as a boy, a creature now blossomed into an exquisite flower of delicacy, and of course he would never be able to...

"So you do know him, don't you," Aeris was saying.

Tayeko nodded and continued staring at Sephiroth, unable to pull her eyes from his form that seemed of endless rivers of lean muscle. His hair was so long, silver and lustrous, shiny and delicate, hanging down past his waist and framing his face in a halo of silver. His green eyes, glowing the same bright hue of the Lifestream, were cold and differential, and tore away from her at that moment. She swallowed hard then, feeling her knees tremble, and mentally ordered herself to get it together before she collapsed.

Stop it, you stupid girl! Can't you see he isn't even paying you any mind?

The tension in the room had grown incredibly thick, and Aeris knew it was going to be up to her to stop it.

"Well," she stammered, gaining the attention of Tayeko, and, what was still frightening to her, despite the Planet's words, her murdered. Sephiroth's eyes gazed at her intently, awaiting for her instruction. It made her awfully nervous and she felt inclined to get away from his harsh gaze as soon as possible.

She dropped to her knees then, waving them to join her. "We have to pray to move the Lifestream," she said. "Take my hands. We don't have a lot of time left."

Tayeko knelt beside her then and took her hand, but Sephiroth seemed to be moving in slow motion. Perhaps it was just the unbridled fear Aeris couldn't control at the thought of having him so close to her. She felt a shiver when Sephiroth took her hand, and he politely (or perhaps, impolitely) kept as much space as possibly between them.

Aeris didn't know what else to do, so she squeezed her eyes shut and began to pray for the Lifestream to move, hoping the other two would follow suit. She prayed for Sephiroth's soul, prayed for their safety on this unperceived journey they were about to embark on. She prayed for Tayeko, the lost little Cetra girl beside her, that she would be able to have happiness and the wealth of knowledge of their people in this life. Prayed that they would grow close, and maybe even become friends. And Aeris prayed for Mom, and Cloud, and all her friends, prayed they would be safe - and that she would be able to save them all.

Rocking to and fro, Tayeko quietly began to pray. Never mind that she never had before, this would be the first time and there was a first time for everything, wasn't there? That was something Aeris would probably say. So she prayed, prayed for the Lifestream to rise out of the earth and devour Meteor. Prayed for Papa, that he may rest peacefully in the Lifestream, prayed for the Mother she never knew, who was probably somewhere in the Promised Land. But most of all, she prayed for Sephiroth, the boy she knew from childhood, grown into a man full of anger and hopelessness, and prayed that they would find each other.

Sephiroth felt the movements of the two women praying beside him, and realized they were exhausting themselves with their prayers. His eyes closed, Sephiroth allowed himself this moment to pray for his soul, for his redemption. Prayed that he would not look down upon his hands and constantly see the blood of those he'd murdered. Prayed for Mother, who had seen so much pain, and deserved a peaceful rest. Prayed that maybe somehow, someday - he would be less enough of a monster that he could look at her - Tayeko - and maybe be with her, the way his heart yearned to.

Cloud Strife stood on the deck of the Highwind, his childhood friend, Tifa Lockheart, close beside him. He watched the scene in front of him in with a morbid sense of fascination.

Holy was being pushed away by Meteor, and now was practically frozen around the monstrosity in surrender. Holy, that had been Aeris' summon. It stood frozen around the glaring, angry ball of red hate, no longer further advancing to stop magic it was created to combat.

It was all so horribly depraved, after all the endless battles they'd fought, the trials and tribulations and wounds and scars. They endured so much, all of them, and this was to be their moment of triumph.

Especially hers.

Aeris had died for this moment. Selflessly given up her life that all of them, that the Planet - may survive. And now she was being failed, let down and disappointed, more so than any of the rest of them.

Cloud's chest tightened with agony over these thoughts. Aeris... she'd died for nothing. Nothing at all!

He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to look at Tifa, whose eyes were wide in fear. She was shaking.

"I guess... this is it..."

It made him feel so horribly despondent inside. "Yeah... Holy doesn't seem to be working anymore."

Tifa let out a miserable sigh. "I wonder what went wrong... this isn't what Aeris left us for at all."

It was painful to speak of Aeris. The flower girl who brought so many rays of sunshine into his, into all of their lives. He looked down.

"Maybe we'll see her now, Cloud."

Cloud didn't know what to say to that. Everything just seemed hopeless at that moment. They were moments from their deaths. They'd destroyed Sephiroth, destroyed Jenova, and lost Aeris to a vain sacrifice - all for nothing.

"Cloud," Tifa began in a timid voice, turning her wine colored eyes on him. "There are many things I still haven't told you..."

Cloud grabbed her hand tightly then. Tifa looked up in surprise.

"Now's our only chance to say these things," Cloud told her solemnly.

Before Tifa could respond, a vulgar yell invaded their solace.

"Shit! Look at that!"

It was Barret Wallace, storming over to join them at the railing. He was pointing excitedly into the distance.

Cloud and Tifa both turned to find the source of Barret's frenzy. Cloud was quite surprised at what he saw.

"Cloud!" Tifa exclaimed. "Is that... Lifestream!"

"It is," Cloud replied, just as the rest of AVALANCHE - Red XIII, Cid Highwind, Yuffie Kisaragi, Vincent Valentine and Cait Sith ran over to join them.

"I can't believe it!" Tifa cried, amazed. "Look! It's helping Holy!"

The others broke out into various exclamations of elation and joy, while Cloud simply watched the scene unfold. The Lifestream was surely aiding Holy - gentle streams of bright green Mako swirling and seemingly shoving about the white energy of Holy that had only moments ago been still.

Aeris... its you, isn't it?

It was then that a bright flash of light erupted from the source of the magical battle, and the members of AVALANCHE groaned and promptly shielded their eyes from the assault. Cloud refused to look away, no matter how his eyes burned. Aeris had saved them after all.

Cloud felt a warm rush fall over his body when he next saw Aeris' smiling face in his mind. Her eyes were closed, her mouth moving in a gentle prayer. She then opened her eyes, and looked right at him, her green eyes gleaming.

Yet, the young mercenary was unprepared for the shock he would receive next.

Aeris' face dissipated, and all that went against logical thought formed in his mind. Sephiroth - his hated adversary- was then before him, his eyes too closed and his narrow lips working in prayer as well. He opened his eyes, eyes that were void of hatred and evil, void of insanity and depravity. Instead they seemed sad, remorseful. Remorseful?

Cloud stumbled backward in shock, too stunned to wonder about the pretty young woman who appeared in his mind next, a woman with soft, angled features and stark black hair. She too seemed to be praying, and opened eyes that were a bright violet.

His comrades had apparently seen the vision as well, as they all erupted into confusion, throwing frenzied questions into the air. Cloud could barely hear them; his blood was boiling and his ears ringing. He leaned forward, grasping the railing in an attempt to steady himself.

Sephiroth? He thought, his mind practically burning. Sephiroth... how can this bed? What have you done? He grit his teeth and felt anger wash over him, not understanding why Sephiroth's image had to pollute even Aeris' final attempt to save them. Even in death, it seemed the man's drive could not be wavered.

"Cloud? Cloud, are you alright?"

Cloud turned to Tifa, who was gazing at him with great concern in her eyes. He felt dizzy, and Tifa noticed, placing her arm around his back.

"Cloud, what do you think this means?"

Cloud couldn't answer her. His mind was in too much turmoil to even form a response. He merely shook his head back and forth.

"Did anyone see the woman with the black hair?" Red XIII asked, stepping through the band of fighters to seat himself in the center of them all. "Peculiar visions. Aeris, Sephiroth, and another."

"What the hell was Sephiroth's ugly face doin' in my mind?" Barret demanded, waving his gun arm wildly in front of his face. "You don't think he didn't die, do you?"

Yuffie brought a hand to her mouth. "I don't know, but I think I'm going to be sick."

"Not on my goddamned deck, you won't!" Cid berated her, stomping forward angrily. "Go over to the railing, stupid kid!"

Yuffie did so and promptly lost her lunch over the side of the Highwind. Cid frowned in disgust.

Vincent had stepped beside Cloud then, who was still in shock by the vision.

"You saw it as well."

Cloud looked up at Vincent, almost stumbling and losing his footing. Tifa carefully held onto him to steady him.

"Yeah, I did," he said. "What does this mean?"

"I can't say," Vincent answered with a shrug, turning to view the landscape as the Lifestream was slowly receding back into the earth. "They were simply visions, Cloud. They probably mean nothing. Yet, they could mean something great."

Vincent took a step away and continued watching the horizon. Cloud shook his head, bringing a hand up to it. He turned to Tifa.

"What did that mean? Why does he have to talk in riddles?"

Tifa smiled and shook her head. "Don't worry, Cloud. I'm sure everything will be fine. The Planet is safe now. Don't we deserve a break from trouble and anxiety?"

Cloud nodded, Tifa was of course, right. She usually was. Always the one willing to lend a positive and motivating word of wisdom.

"Yeah, I guess it just really shook me up," he told her. He put an arm around her shoulders protectively, and Tifa nuzzled into him contentedly.

Cloud inhaled deeply, watching the night sky, the vista around them finally returned to normal. The last swirls of Lifestream descended into the earth.

Thank you, Aeris.

Sephiroth opened his eyes slowly, wincing with a sharp pain in his temple. He blinked a few times, his long, silver lashes batting together with the movement.

As his eyes adjusted to the light, Sephiroth slowly realized where he was - The City of the The Ancients.

He now wore his full SOLDIER uniform once again, and was pleased to see the Masamune lay still by his side. He regarded the weapon with a cool smile.

"We meet again, my friend," he said, and reached out to grasp the hilt. With that, he rose to his feet.

Inhaling the cool air into his lungs, he surveyed his surroundings. It hadn't changed much since he last was here - on that fateful day he'd taken the Cetra's life. His features darkened harshly at the memory, and he ordered his mind to push them away. He wondered where the girl was, anyway.

Then the other one - her. As his eyes surveyed the abundance of dusty white shell houses around him, early morning sunlight glittering on them, his mind turned to Tayeko. The woman, he'd last seen as a youthful teen, awkward and prepubescent but never the less lovely. They'd been close friends, then... but that was years ago, and the memories where pushed so deeply into his mind Sephiroth could hardly gather the strength to find them.

He began a few practice katana with the Masamune, loosening his limbs and muscles that had grown stiff and unpracticed since his short time in Death. Sephiroth smirked as he worked, thinking the situation over. Here he was, forced by the Planet to redeem his miserable life, and he is stuck, quite ironically, with a woman he murdered and a woman he could not save!

His thoughts were interrupted when Aeris scampered out of a nearby shell house, Tayeko close behind. Both girls were carrying small travel sacks that appeared stuffed full. Aeris carried the Princess Guard in one hand, though Sephiroth noted to himself, she was holding it quite oddly. Even odder, there was no trace of her afflicted wound that should have ripped Aeris's dress and marred the skin in her abdomen.

Aeris stopped short when she caught Sephiroth, and Tayeko nearly ran into her, clambering on her feet when she caught sight of Sephiroth wielding his powerful Masamune sword in the deadly looking Katana. She gasped.

Sephiroth had turned to them immediately and ceased his Katana. He said nothing.

Aeris felt her heart pounding in her chest. Regardless of what the Planet said, it was odd and frightening to be so close to Sephiroth, especially once he had the Masamune in hand and was looking to be quite capable in using it. Paired with his infamous SOLDIER uniform, she looked to her the way he did the day he killed her - and the thought momentarily froze Aeris in place. But Sephiroth did not move to attack, nor did his eyes show any hint of menace or ill intention. In fact, they seemed to show boredom and annoyance more than anything else.

Tayeko's eyes were glued to Sephiroth as he stared the two Cetra down, waiting patiently for one of them to speak. She'd been able to watch him from afar in the Lifestream, but only now, standing before him in person, did she realize the man he had grown into. Gone was the lonely, hurt boy who would turn flippant when agitated, or cold and despondent when said. Gone was the boy who was too tall for his age, too intelligent and ashamed of his long hair with its funny color. Gone was the boy who would sit quietly beside her in the dark, both of them telling stories of romance and adventure and their own escape from the Hell of Shin-Ra. In his place stood a tall, powerful man, a man who left off an aura of authority, a man whose confidence and drive could practically be smelled in the air around him. A man whose eyes could instill fear into the hearts of men, a man whose commanding stature made him seem every bit the warlord he was, a man whose long, silver hair that blew in the breeze gave him the great impression of a heavenly angel.

Tayeko felt her breath catch as she took in the handsome, beautiful, masculine sight of Sephiroth, and when his eyes turned on her, catching her staring, she felt her face grow hot, and almost lost her footing.

"Um..." Aeris finally spoke. "There you are, Sephiroth. We found some things for the journey in the shell house, so we packed them up."

Sephiroth didn't respond to her.

"I've got to find Cloud, apparently," Aeris said, blushing slightly. "We'll need to get out of here."

Sephiroth's features darkened considerably at the mention of the puppet. He turned away from the two women.

"We'll have to pass through the Corral Valley Cave," Sephiroth suddenly instructed, sounding as though he were leading a troop of soldiers on a mission. "Once we reach Icicle Inn, we will be able to acquire chocobos."

With that, the former General began walking, quite briskly, in the direction of the cave.

Aeris looked at Tayeko, who simply blinked.

"You wouldn't think he would be in that big of a hurry," Aeris joked, giggling. "I'm glad the Planet left you boots. You'd lose your feet to frostbite."

But Tayeko merely shrugged, her eyes still watching Sephiroth's back as he strode confidently ahead of them.