Chapter Two
A loud gasp of utter shock tore from the young woman's lips. Her fingers dug into the soil, her emerald eyes shut tightly. Her mouth was opened in a silent scream as a sharp voice rushed into her mind, keeping her an unbearable headache. Pain entwined with her own body; the source of pain was, of course, from Gaia, the Planet. After a few more seconds, the agonized screams subsided along with the pain. All was quiet in the young woman's head.
She raised her head, moaning from the sudden trauma of hearing such loud screams and sufferings from her beloved Planet. "Where am I?" she mumbled, picking herself up from the ground. The young woman looked around and saw vast grasslands everywhere. Then she looked down at herself and was shocked. Her usual pink clothes were replaced by dark green clothing that wrapped around her upper body. There were no straps, only thin ties in the back. It was rather tight around her chest, cutting off her air for only a few seconds before he body became used to the pressure. The lower half of her body was covered in a dark skirt. It was designed to be able to run in, not to long that it would trip or slow her down, just right.
-You are in the Eastern Cetra Tribe's land, young one- A voice suddenly entered the young woman's mind. She nearly jumped, not expecting it, but then she came to realize it was only the Planet speaking with her.
"What do you mean? Do you mean the Eastern Continent?" the young woman looked around, "How am I here, Planet? I was supposed to be dead-Sephiroth killed me."
-Yes, I understand your confusion, child. You must understand that Sephiroth is alive once more. He is not your enemy, though. Make friends with him because you will need his strength if you are to win this of coming war. I cannot warn the other Cetra, for they cannot hear me. I am your Planet, Aeris, I am the Planet that comes from your time. I have sent you back in time to face Jenova. Beware of her, she seeks to kill. I am sure you have heard the story of how that creature killed my Cetra?-
Aeris nodded, "How could I not?" She had a lot of questions to ask the Planet. How was she supposed to trust Sephiroth? He had killed her! "But, Gaia, if I'm supposed to become friends with Sephiroth…where is he?"
-In the Northern Cetra Tribe. He is with a young Cetra girl who is already sick with the disease. When you find him, Cetra Aeris, I want to you find the five Cetra who are to help you in your journey. One will be so much harder to find, she is hiding from you and yet, she doesn't even realize it. Find her and you will be able to begin-
-
Jenari raised her head, moaning in pain as her headache returned to her, worse than before. She felt so weak, but she was immensely curious about who Jenova was talking to in the other room. Sitting up, she wiped the sweat away from her face and got out of bed. When her feet touched the ground, Jenari believed she was going to fall.
Her fingers caught onto the bed sheet, clinging to it as she tried to regain her balance. The sheet was slipping from the bed, but before it could fall to the ground with her, Jenari recovered. Shakily, she turned to the door and began walking-no stumbling-towards it. She could hear Jenova and a man speaking. Could this have been someone from Jenova's Tribe down in the East? Where were they all coming from anyway? 'TRAITOR'
Jenari nearly fell again from surprise. That girl's voice had come back to her. She did not yet know who the girl was or how she was speaking with her. It was impossible to really know because Jenari had figured out that the girl was not speaking to her, but someone else. Or, either that, the crying girl was speaking with her and another. Jenari could not decide on that one. 'RUN! FLEE! DANGER! BLOOD! MURDER! KILL!'
"What is wrong with the Cetra girl, Jenari?" the man asked after a few moments of silence. Jenari blinked her sapphire blue eyes, a streak of mistrust suddenly flaring in her blood. His voice…so familiar yet so foreign, who was he? "You have made her sick, now what kind of disgusting disease did you bring upon her?"
"Nothing that really concerns you. I did not make the girl sick. She was sick when I brought her out of the fire and crater," Jenova's voice reached Jenari's ears. It was icy and cold, hating and raging.
Jenari reached the doorframe and leaned against it. Her eyes were full of pain as she looked into the living room. Her eyes landed on a tall man with long silver hair. His skin was pale. She noticed that he had odd glowing green eyes that were narrowed in utter rage. His thin lips were twisted into an unkind frown and a hand rested on a long sword at his hip. It looked as if he had just sheathed it.
Jenari felt her breath suddenly catch in her throat. She tried to breathe in and found it impossible. She began choking, coughing harshly. Two pairs of eyes landed on her as she swayed, clutching the wood of the doorframe. Jenari could feel her fingers slipping from the thin wood though. Her head was bowed as she coughed, her hand covering her mouth.
Her blue eyes caught sight of the silver-haired man looking at her in horror before she fell, crumpling onto the floor. Her body hit the rough wood with a loud thump. Jenari cried out in pain. Her body was so weak and fragile…so horribly weak. As she lay on the floor, her hand fell limply from her mouth and lay out beside her. There was blood on it. 'DEATH. SICK. YOU ARE SICK. DEATHLY ILL, FIND CETRA AERIS,'
"Cetra Aeris…?" Jenari breathed, her voice very audible. She could feel the darkness in her mind growing, threatening to consume her weak body. And then she felt strong arms wrap around her fragile body and lift her from the ground carefully. Her head rested on a warm shoulder that was covered in dark leather. She moaned in pain, muttering a quiet thank you before her eyes closed and she lost all feeling and sense.
--
Shekai sighed, her hand resting on a young girl's forehead. The girl was gasping for air, her eyes dilated from pain. The end was far away from this young girl. She gave a weak cry, her oddly violet eyes closing. Shekai knew that the girl's eyes were usually green, but ever since she had grown sick, her eyes had turned a shade of violet. "How long has she been this was, Taylor?" Shekai asked a young man.
Taylor looked at her with saddened brown eyes. His unusual tanned skin had wrinkles in it from great distress. Her brown hair was combed out. His fingers were drumming on the wood of a table. "Six hours as of ten minutes ago. Is my sister going to be okay?" Taylor asked, his voice cracked with worry.
"I'm sorry, Taylor, but I don't believe so. Her condition is of nothing I have ever seen. Zeran's daughter, just last night, died of similar causes. It happen so slowly, and yet, so quickly. My own sister, Jenari, she is sick to. I'm afraid to tell her that I think she's not going to live either. Her symptoms are so abnormal, just like these. Her eyes haven't changed color or hair, skin tone or anything, but something happened…" Shekai grew quiet, tears filling her eyes.
Taylor, seeing his leader's discomfort, came over, trying not to look at his own sister's dying body, and placed a comforting arm around her shoulder. "Jenari will live, Shekai, if my sister won't, yours will. I'm sure of it, but what happened to her?"
Shekai looked up, tears in her eyes, "The Planet has left her body completely." Taylor's eyes grew wide with shock. Never in the history that remained with them, had the Planet abandoned one of its own.
"When? How? Why?" Taylor couldn't stop the questions from coming out. He looked down at his sister and saw that her eyes had closed and her head was rolling from side to side, blood leaking from the corner of her mouth. Taylor's eyes darkened. Her reached out and wiped the
blood away. "I love you, Sis," he whispered, caressing her face. He knew that she had mere seconds to live. Blood from the mouth was certain death.
Tears began to leak from his eyes as his sister left him, but even so, he felt happy. She was returning to the Planet; she would go to the Promised Land at last. Turning his eyes back to Shekai, he waited for her to answer. Seeing this, Shekai opened her mouth to speak, "She told me this morning…she said that Gaia was silent, but I don't know how that was even possible. Tomorrow, we can ask her if you are up to it. I am sure you want to spend the last for moments with your sister, Taylor."
To Shekai's surprise, he shook his head, "No, Shekai, my sister has already past. She is with the Planet now, in the Promised Land. Now let's go check up with your sister and see how she is doing." Taylor responded in a firm voice, releasing Shekai and moving his hand away from his limp sister. Then he stood up and walked towards the door.
--
Aeris stared. This Planet was so different from the one she was used to. Walking through the grasslands, she let her unbraided hair be carried with the wind. The Planet was guiding her along the way. If she could find the Eastern Cetra Tribe, then it would not take so long to reach the Northern Cetra Tribe as it would on foot.
"Planet, where are the Eastern Cetra Tribe at?" Aeris asked aloud, her eyes brimming with happiness like they usually were.
-You will find them, Cetra Aeris, you will find them. Or rather, they will come to you,-
"What do you-?" Aeris was cut off by a loud growling sound coming from somewhere nearby. She stiffened, her emerald eyes widening in terror. Was there was monster out there? How was she supposed to guard herself? She had no weapon!
Just as Aeris caught sight of a flash of gray, she screamed. Her body was thrown to the ground, a loud rumbling sound in her ears. Aeris opened her eyes in fright to see a gray wolf standing over her, its fangs bared. "Down, Janlie, down," a deep and stern voice growled.
Aeris looked past the wolf, nearly screaming again when she saw a young man approaching her. He was carrying a spear, his hard gray eyes glaring at her. She stared back at him as the wolf backed off, but it continued to give her wary and mistrustful looks. The man bent down next to her, his spear clutched tightly in his hand, "You are you, young woman?"
"I-I-" Aeris couldn't find her voice. She kept looking fearfully at the man and the wolf. She knew she was in danger, she was going to die, they were going to kill her and feed her to the dog. 'No, no, that's something Hojo would do, not this man…would he?' Aeris asked herself in her mind.
"You do have a name don't you?" the man asked as Aeris sat up, giving him looks of great fear. He only raised an eyebrow at her.
"Y-Yes-I am C-Cetra A-Aeris," she replied meekly, shrinking back at Janlie came forward to his master and sat down beside him.
The young man nodded, "Cetra Aeris, I am Garnet. I apologize for my wolf, Janlie, he attacked you wrongly. He believed you to be a threat for some reason. He has never attacked another Cetra before unless ordered to. Tell me, what Cetra Tribe do you come from? Obviously you are not from the Eastern Cetra Tribe, for I have never seen you before,"
Aeris was baffled. What was she supposed to tell this man? That she came from Midgar, her mother, Ifalana, had died when she was seven and she had been adopted by Elmyra. But Midgar did not exist yet because she was the last surviving Cetra until Sephiroth stabbed her in the stomach and back under the influence of Jenova? No…that would make Garnet think she was crazy.
"Um…we'll just say I'm…an outcast for now." Aeris responded, thinking fast. Garnet seemed to not take any notice of her pauses, and if he did, he didn't seem to care because he simply nodded. Aeris watched in great relief as Garnet pointed towards where Midgar would be built 2,000 years into the future. Trees and open grasslands and mountains stood there at the present-er past time.
"My Tribe is this way. You may stay there for a while if you wish," he offered, bowing ever so slightly for her. Aeris smiled weakly, but shook her head.
"I couldn't. I have to reach the Northern Cetra Tribe very soon," Aeris admitted meekly. Garnet nodded, but was quick to reply, "You cannot go defenseless. You may stay in my Tribe tonight, and then I will gladly accompany you up North. Many dangerous monsters live up there and I would be shamed to know I let a young lady such as yourself go unprotected."
Aeris blushed slightly and nodded, "Thank you,"
--
Shekai entered her house with Taylor only to find that Jenari was laying on a couch, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Shekai's eyes widened, she had yet to see the silver-haired man in the shadows, staring at her with narrowed green eyes. "Jenari!" she breathed, rushing over to her sister.
Taylor came with her, reaching the couch. He bent over Jenari, quickly wiping the blood away. "She really is sick. But she's not as bad as my sister was. Shekai, why is Jenari on the couch? I thought you said she was in bed,"
Shekai shook her head, "I don't know, Taylor. Maybe she got up and collapsed or something. Ever since she came back with Jenova after that thing hit in the far north, she's been very ill-and then the whole tribe has this disease. I don't know what's causing it…"
Taylor sighed, "I can't help you there. You're as lost as me. Speaking of which-Where is Jenova?" Taylor looked around and that was when he saw Sephiroth standing in a corner, looking at both of them. Immediately, Taylor straightened up, reaching for the sword at his side, "Who are you?" he demanded in a harsh voice.
Sephiroth gave him a look and then responded in a cold tone, "I am Sephiroth. Jenari-she is sick because of Jenova. Jenova is spreading a disease over the Planet that will kill you all if you don't kill her." Sephiroth glowing eyes watched as Taylor tightened his grip on his sword, "Put your sword away. You cannot possibly defeat me-I am, in your luck, not looking for a fight. I was not sent here to kill you all."
Taylor glared at Sephiroth. Shekai had turned around and was staring at him. Sephiroth merely glanced at her before continuing, "Anyway, the sickness that Jenova is spreading will continue to wipe out your tribe. I don't know how to stop it-I don't believe there is a cure for it, but I suggest you find out how many are sick."
"How do I know you won't hurt Jenari while we're gone?" Taylor spat, his sword still in his hands. He had never used it against another human/Cetra before, only monsters, but he'd protect his friends with it if he had to.
"Because I could have done that a long time ago. I wouldn't harm her-the Planet would not be happy with me if I did…" Sephiroth looked away, muttering something that sounded like, "Damn Planet…won't ever shut up…"
Taylor pretended not to hear that. Instead, he sheathed his sword, knowing what Sephiroth said was true. "Fine, stay here with Jenari. If she wakes up-tell her we're out checking the village. When we come back-if I find that you hurt her in anyway-I'll kill you,"
Sephiroth just rolled his eyes, sighing. "Sure you will. But I'm not going to hurt her for the last time…"
"I don't trust you…Where's Jenova at? How do you know she's causing this sickness?" Shekai asked after a few seconds of silence.
"You Cetra ask too many questions…Jenova is not in the village-and I know because I do. That's none of your concern,"
-
Jenari's eyes opened slowly. Pain flared through her body as she raised herself up into a sitting position. She began to cough harshly, specks of blood appearing on her lips. Quickly Jenari reached up and wiped it away, not realizing it was the warm crimson liquid in her body that kept her alive. Looking around, she spotted Sephiroth sitting on a wooden chair, watching her intently. She avoided looking at him for a moment as she looked around. "Where is Jenova?" she asked, not remembering the conversation that she had heard before she blacked out.
Sephiroth's glowing green eyes narrowed, "She will not be returning to this house-or this village in fact. I am certain of that. Your sister, Shekai, is with Taylor-they are checking the rest of the village for the sickness. I told them I will watch you, now go back to sleep, you are very sick, Jenari,"
Jenari only blinked, staring at Sephiroth with curious blue eyes, "Why did Jenova leave?" she couldn't help but ask. Sephiroth looked away for a second, staring at the door for some reason, and then turned his cold gaze back on her.
"Because Jenova is evil-she made you sick. She has killed at least four others in your tribe. The sickness will continue to spread. I am surprised you are still living. When you fell like you did, I thought the sickness had claimed you until I saw that you were breathing."
Jenari nodded slowly, question reeling through her mind. "What do you mean Jenova made me sick? She saved my life up towards the far north!"
"An act, she put on a heroic act and saved your life, but in truth, you are a mere toy to her. Someone she can use to spread the virus she has created to kill you all. There is no cure for the virus, Jenari. Normally I would have already killed you myself if you are the one to spread the disease, but the Planet wants you alive, so instead, I will protect you-for now," Sephiroth told her darkly. Jenari shuttered in fear, and then began coughing again.
Raising her hand to cover her mouth, Jenari pulled it away, only to notice the specks of blood covering her hand. Her sapphire blue eyes widened in horror. "I'm dying!" she cried, unable to tear her eyes away from the horrible sight. "It's an omen of death!"
"Jenari, true, you are dying, but you will not die until Jenova wills it. She lets those who carry the virus live for as long as she wants, making them suffer cruel deaths. You on the other hand, will not grow as bad as them until the whole Planet is infected. Then you will die unless we find a way to cure your sickness." Sephiroth explained calmly, as if he did not care what happened.
Jenari's eyes darkened with suspicion, "Why should I believe you? Who are you anyway? You don't look like a Cetra! And those clothes-that sword! What the hell are you?" Jenari did not even realize she had just swore.
Sephiroth merely glanced at her and then replied, "I am Sephiroth, if you must know. I come from a different time-brought back to life my the Planet, but placed in the past for my horrid deeds. I am to save as many Cetra as I can before my supposed Mother kills them all."
Jenari stared. "Jenova is your mother?" she gasped out in shock, her eyes bulging Sephiroth nodded, confirming the worst. "But only in a way,' he replied quickly.
-
It didn't take long for Aeris, Garnet, and Janlie to reach the Eastern Cetra Tribe's small village. Aeris entered it, looking swiftly around. It appeared as if the sickness had not yet plagued this village yet. She was relieved.
After a while, Aeris found herself sitting in front of a fire with Garnet, Janlie, and a few other members of the Eastern Cetra Tribe. Janlie was looking at Aeris intently. Aeris shuttered.
She blinked, turning to look at Janlie. "Are you sure your wolf isn't going to attack me?" she asked, giving the large gray wolf a weary look as she inched away from it. "She already did once-and that hurt!"
Garnet turned to look at her and laughed. "Janlie won't hurt you, Aeris. She simply thought you were some sort of creature or something. I was out hunting with her," he reassured her.
"Like that makes me feel any better!" Aeris muttered, turning away from Janlie. "Okay, anyway, I still need to get to the Northern continent-er…the Northern Cetra Tribe to go see…a friend of mine, eh…yeah,"
-So you're already calling Sephiroth your friend? How nice-now if you could HURRY UP before everyone up there dies-then MAYBE we can make some progress!-
'Oh shut Planet…I'm hurrying as fast as my feet allow!'-
Taylor and Shekai had finally finished checking the rest of the village. So far there were three more that were sick, and some who contained symptoms. "Taylor, what if the whole village becomes sick? Then what will we do? This disease is spreading fast with no cure-the whole village could be killed by it." Shekai voiced her worries, her head turning to look at her own house. "I need to get back to Jenari. That man-Sephiroth-I don't trust him."
Taylor blinked, nodding, "We'll fight the disease, Shekai. And about Sephiroth-I don't really trust him either. We shouldn't have left Jenari with him. That sword he carries is evil, I can sense it. Come on, let's go back to your house and see if Jenari's awake. If she's not, then we can question this Sephiroth guy. He isn't a Cetra, I can tell you that."
"I knew that…he scared me with that sword-did you see it? It's at least eleven feet long! Who carries a sword like that around with them?" Shekai asked, staring at Taylor with utter confusion.
Taylor just shrugged, "I don't know, Shekai. He is strange, I'll admit that. And if he's not a Cetra, what the hell is he?"
"Taylor!" Shekai suddenly snapped.
"What?" Taylor asked, turning to face her. Now he was confused. What had he done?
"Don't swear or curse!" Shekai growled.
Taylor grinned, "Opps…Sorry,"
"You'd better be, now come on," Shekai ordered, walking back to her house. Taylor followed, still grinning. He had just done something very stupid…never swear or curse in front of the tribe leader…what an idiot he had been! Oh well…
