Chapter 13

It took Senna an indeterminate amount of time to realize that she wasn't floating anymore. Instead, she was lying on something soft and a little itchy. For a moment, she just laid there and wondered why her chest felt so heavy. Although, when the memory of the reason came back, she wished for the oblivion of forgetfulness. Too much had happened too quickly, and she was done with it all. Especially if she had just been thrown into another dream with Rufus Shinra. She had already decided they needed to find a way to get a break from each other.

Unfortunately, no matter how much she wished it, the soft, slightly itchy surface did not change to the feel of the smoothest cotton, which meant she must have still been dreaming. She sighed as she finally pushed herself up and opened her eyes. She blinked a few times as she took in the sight of a park. There was a playground nearby with shredded rubber under the swings and around the rest of the equipment. There were also trails that cut through the manicured lawn to extend into the distance where a river could be seen.

What she didn't see as she looked around was Rufus. As a matter of fact, there weren't any people. At least none other than two small children. A young boy, maybe five, was sitting on one of the swings, and despite his stiff shoulders, it was easy to tell he was trying not to cry.

Senna didn't want to spook them if they could see her, so she quietly crept close enough to hear what was said but still far enough to hide behind a tree. She made it in time for the small girl to approach the boy. It was evident that she couldn't have been any older than the boy. Her words held a slight lisp but otherwise were clear and concise for such a small child. "Hey, you okay?"

Senna saw the boy's shoulders stiffen and felt a little sorry for him, but that feeling was quickly replaced by shock when he turned his head just enough to sneer at the little girl as he said, "Leave me alone. Just because I can't see 'em doesn't mean the Turks aren't close. They eat little girls like you for breakfast."

There was no doubt that the angelic-looking little boy with the too-mature expression was none other than Rufus Shinra. Why he was a boy and why she was watching the scene instead of part of it was a mystery, but she crept closer without realizing it. An uncomfortable pit formed in her stomach as she got a better look at the girl. As impossible as it seemed, she was watching herself as a child.

The scene was almost familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. Instead of trying to kill her brain to figure it out, she ignored her racing heart and continued to watch. The girl did not run, but she did look like she was close to tears. She ignored the boy's continued sneer and stepped closer as she whispered, "Is that why you were crying? Did the bad men eat someone you love?"

Rufus's expression turned consternated for several seconds before he burst into laughter. Despite the way the girl's face screwed up into righteous indignation, Senna could not stop from joining him. Luckily, she realized the two children could not see or hear her, so she made her way to a nearby bench to continue watching.

It wasn't until the little girl stomped her foot in childish pique that the boy stopped laughing and grinned as he said, "You're funny. Do you want to play? I'll let you push me."

The girl continued to frown for several seconds before she let out a huff and crossed her arms. "Only if you promise to push me too."

The boy laughed again and kicked his feet randomly as he said, "Silly, we can't push each other at the same time."

Senna laughed again as the girl exaggeratedly rolled her eyes. That expression on a five-year-old had to be the cutest thing she had ever seen. Even though the girl seemed exasperated, she walked behind the boy and put her hands on his back. Though she didn't push him right away. Instead, she said, "I mean after this. You have to promise we'll take turns."

A pout marred the boy's expression for a moment, and his voice was the tiniest bit petulant as he said, "Fine. I promise." That seemed to be all the girl needed, and she smiled happily as she pushed the boy on the swing.

When the scene faded, Senna nearly jumped from the bench, but she was only halfway up when it solidified again. The same two children were nearby on the merry-go-round, and the girl was clinging to one of the bars for dear life while the boy ran around to get it to go faster. When he finally jumped on it, the two children dissolved into peals of laughter.

Several seconds passed before they came to a stop. When they did, the girl jumped up and grabbed one of the bars. "Let me this time!"

Child Rufus only scoffed. "No. I'm stronger. You can't make it go fast enough."

Child Senna pouted and huffed as she flopped back onto the metal platform, but she wasn't allowed to hold the expression for long. As soon as she was seated, Rufus started pushing the merry-go-round again. Senna watched as the two went through the process several more times.

Finally, it looked like Rufus had enough, as he flopped back on the metal and just laid there even after it came to a stop. He was still catching his breath as the girl crawled over and sat next to him. She patted his head as though that could help rejuvenate him, but more interestingly, she said, "You never did tell me your name."

The boy didn't bother to move and pivoted his head enough to look at the girl as he said, "You didn't tell me yours either."

The girl pouted, but she finally said, "I'm Senna."

The boy chuckled as he turned on one side to better look at the girl. "Like short for cinnamon? What kind of name is that?"

The girl crossed her arms and huffed. "No, you big meanie."

She glared harder when he just laughed at her. Although, she leaned closer and closer as she glared until the boy gave in and said, "Okay, okay, my name is—none of your business."

With that, he jumped off the merry-go-round and ran toward the seesaw with a laugh. The girl glared at his back for another moment before she grumbled and followed him. She did so again when she caught up, and he just gave her an expectant look. Finally, she huffed and went to the opposite end so they could continue playing.

They had gone up and down several times before the boy called out. "My name is Rufus."

His unexpected response had the girl laughing and clapping her hands, though she had to stop almost immediately when her end of the seesaw hit the ground with enough force that it nearly dislodged her. Even so, she was grinning at him as she said, "Can I call you Ruru?"

The boy's expression turned to absolute disgust. "No!"

Her response was to pout for a moment, but that didn't last long before she said, "Fine. What about Ru-bug? My bubba calls me Senna-bug, and I call him bubba-bug. Even mommy calls us that."

For a moment, Rufus just chuckled, but then his expression turned contemplative. Finally, he nodded. "Not all the time, but I guess it could be worse. And only if I get to call you Cinna-stick."

It was the girl's turn to look disturbed. She was still fighting a pout when she said, "I guess that's okay." After that, the two of them went back to the swings.

Senna continued to watch as the scene in front of her faded repeatedly. The location didn't change, but the seasons did, as did the two children. The images started to go faster, but it was still easy to see that the two children grew as the meetings progressed. There were hundreds, maybe even thousands of encounters, as Senna had given up trying to count them all as they started to run together.

She was so engrossed in watching the two children become closer over what appeared to be a matter of years that it came as a shock when she grasped she wasn't watching a weird dream—she was watching as memories came pouring back in. The fact that she finally recognized the park as one near where she had grown up was the key.

The unexpected realization caused her to start, but she nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a woman's voice behind her. "This does not make up for the wrongs done to you, but restoring these memories is a small token of apology. May they bring you comfort in the knowledge that you are not here alone."

Senna stood and spun so fast she nearly fell. What she found—or rather who—was someone recognizable, and yet even more unexpected than the knowledge that she had known Rufus since she was five.

It took Senna a few seconds to find her voice. "Minerva?"

The goddess smiled kindly and blinked as her armor and weapons instantly disappeared. She was no less intimidating or beautiful without it, but Senna only felt warmed when the goddess held out her hand. "I wished to talk to you sooner, but your body was far too stressed by the move from Earth to Gaia. Come. Sit with me, and we will talk."

Senna hesitated. It was one thing to see the goddess of Earth while she was too panicked over the thought of her own death to deal with more. But to be faced with Minerva while she was calmer was a whole other thing. To say she was overwhelmed was an understatement. Thankfully, Minerva's only response was to smile and take a seat on the bench Senna had just vacated.

A few moments later, Senna decided that she needed answers and had no time to be so awed. That could come later when she was alone—if she ever had alone time again. She pushed that last thought aside as she sat and tentatively said, "Thank you for the memories. I—I don't know how I could have forgotten."

The goddess nodded once. "Of course, it is not anything you did on purpose. After your coma as a child, there was much you lost."

Senna's eyes widened. She hadn't even considered that. It had been when she was nearly eleven. Her mother had picked her up from school when out of nowhere, a truck had run a red light. Her mother escaped with nothing but a broken arm, but it had hit the passenger side. It could have been worse, but she was in a coma for a little more than a week. It took her months to get back to normal after she woke. Not all of her memories had come back, though.

She didn't think about it often. It had definitely been a hurdle, but once she had overcome, she focused on the future. Plus, no one in her family wanted to talk about it. She had the stray thought that the history surely made her death that much more painful for them. The utter irony of how she died was almost funny if she could manage to disassociate herself from the situation.

And that thought was her call to focus. She couldn't afford to let her mind ramble. When she concentrated on the goddess again, Minerva patted her arm to comfort her. "I hope you can take these and use them to find your place as a child of Gaia." She then turned her focus to the two children going through scene after scene. "I cannot keep you here for much longer, but I am certain you have many questions. I will do what I can to answer them."

Despite the surrealness of everything that had happened, Senna recognized this as a rare opportunity, so she forced herself to focus. "I do. First, why was I exposed to mako, and what does that mean for me? Will I be enhanced?"

Minerva's chuckle was like the sound of bells, but her eyes were sad when she faced Senna and said, "You were not exposed to the lifestream like those near you. Although, since you did not start as a child of Gaia, the planet had to mark you so your spirit would one day be able to become part of it. You suffered from the transition, not from exposure."

While Senna was pleased to hear that she didn't fit the criteria to be exploited like the Soldiers, that did make more questions. "Wait, if I am not enhanced or wasn't exposed to mako, why did my eyes change? And why did I hear voices?"

Minerva's touch was like butterfly wings as she brushed her hand against Senna's cheek. The sadness in her eyes grew as she said, "Your eyes are a sign that you are now a child of Gaia. The rest is part of the promise I made with Earth. We both knew that you would face more trials here than any of our children should be forced to, so we agreed to arm you with what gifts we could. You have a special connection to the planet now. The voices you hear are those from the lifestream that still bear a consciousness. I believe most of my children call them the Cetra."

That statement instantly had Senna on her feet. She paced a few steps away before she turned back with wide eyes. "Are you telling me that I'm a Cetra now?"

Minerva stood at a far more sedate pace. She then closed the distance and took Senna's hand. "Not exactly, child. Your building blocks are slightly different than any of my children. However, if it allows you to understand better, then yes, your gifts are similar to those that have guided the lifestream in the past. It is the only thing I have to give. I hope this connection to the planet and myself will help guide you through the coming trials."

That information was too much for Senna. On top of everything else, she was now the equivalent of something Shinra had been trying to get their hands on for ages. The fact that her DNA was different only made it worse. She just hoped like hell never to run into Hojo. That thought made her shiver hard enough to rattle her teeth. It didn't matter that she wasn't actually enhanced—if anyone in the science department found out about her 'gift,' she would never see the light of day again.

Minerva managed to draw her from her mini-panic attack with a gentle hand on her arm. "I was shown your history when you became my child. You are not one to be overcome, and I trust you will not do so now. Do not forget that I will be here to support you and that you are not alone. Despite how things may seem, there are others who will help you through the rest of this life that you have been given."

Senna shook her head to try and rid it of the horror that was the Shinra science department. She wasn't entirely convinced that things wouldn't get hairy for her—she was in Rufus's rooms after all, but that didn't mean she would be sent to the science department right away. She just had to figure out how to convince Rufus she was of more use out of it. Somehow she doubted their connection would be enough.

Still, she was getting nowhere by worrying about it. Instead of letting it consume her, she looked up with a hardened expression. "So now what? If this was your gift, what am I supposed to do with it?"

Minerva shook her head with a sad smile. "Your life is your own. I have no expectations of you but know that I will be here if you have need of my guidance. This life is yours alone to live."

Senna had a feeling that things would not be as easy as the goddess made it sound, but maybe things were different on this planet than what she knew. After all, she had been forced to conclude that this was a real place. Maybe the stories she knew were nothing more than a coincidence that included these real people from another dimension.

Just having that thought made Senna's head hurt. There was no way this was one big cosmic coincidence. She would allow that there might be some differences, but she had already seen enough to doubt that it was more like her own world. Maybe someone on Earth had brushed consciousnesses with another person from Gaia further on the timeline than she was and got the story that way. That actually made sense—if she was willing to buy into the whole soul-bond thing. Which, to be honest, she couldn't really deny anymore.

Finally, she sighed and shrugged. "I do appreciate the chance, even if it is hard for me to accept that I passed from Earth. Still, if you have seen my memories, you have to know that I can't just sit and watch if things start to turn out like I know them. I'm not the kind of person that can sit back and allow injustices without comment."

There didn't seem to be any change in Minerva's expression, but there was a marked difference in the air when the goddess faced her again. "I cannot dictate what you must do, as you have free will to follow your own path. However, you have a direct link to the planet, so I will hear any plea you have. I cannot promise to solve all your problems, as that is part of living, but you must also remember that you have more tools at your disposal than ever before."

Senna slowly lifted one brow as she watched the goddess. It suddenly made sense. Not only did she now have a new lease on life, but she was right in the middle of where most of the action would potentially be. She understood that she wasn't put there on purpose, but her link to Rufus gave her front row seats, so to speak. And Minerva wasn't one to let that opportunity pass by, promises or not.

A small huff of laughter escaped Senna when Minerva only smiled and tilted her head over so slightly. So that was to be it then? Bitter laughter was still in Senna's voice as she said, "So a win-win is the plan? I get a life and shiny new powers, and you get an inside person to try and stop the destruction?"

Minerva's smile dimmed slightly, and she shook her head. "Not at all. Though, I hope what I have given you will keep you safe. If you choose to walk away, then I have no power to stop you. All I can caution is that your bond with the boy will not fade. Not even I know the exact reason why it happens, but once it does, the bond lasts until you both pass into the lifestream."

Senna just held up a hand to indicate she needed a moment. This was all too much. It had been too much two revelations ago, and she honestly had no idea why her brain hadn't exploded yet. Finally, she looked back up with a sigh. "I understand—I think, but I need time to process this."

The goddess nodded in understanding, but Senna kept going before she could say anything. "If I have questions once I've wrapped my head around this all, will I be able to speak to you again? Or is this it?"

Minerva's chuckle tinkled around the park and seemed to light up the air around them as she said, "You are one of the very few that has a direct link to me. Just call my name, and I will be listening."

She then placed one hand on Senna's head as she said, "Now, I believe it is time for you to return to the flow of time. Much longer here, and your body will suffer."

"Wait!" That statement made many more questions spring into Senna's mind, but she wasn't given a chance to express them. Instead, Minerva gave her that same small smile once more before the park faded into the warm darkness that precedes sleep.

A/N: First I would like to start with thanks to my reviewer that provided the image(Which couldn't be posted here, so you can find it on my DeviantArt page or Ao3. Both under the same user name as here). You rock! Now, on to my note lol. I hope none of you were as confused by how things turned out as Senna. Poor girl has too much going on, and not enough time to deal. She needs some alone time, but you can bet Rufus is going to be all up in her business in the next chapter lol. I don't know about you all, but I'm excited to see what he has to say when they speak again. I can't wait to share. Until then, thank you for reading and cheers!