Chapter 20
Gather up your jackets, moving to the exits, I hope you have found a friend.
"I can't believe I'm so weak." Sephiroth was leaning against a tree with both of his hands bracing his head against the trees bark. Aeris was standing in front of him with a strangely serene expression. "It's okay Sephiroth. You did everything you could."
Sephiroth was almost animated by Aeris' words but he remained leaning against the tree. "It wasn't enough. Jenova now has the Black Materia, and it's only a matter of time before she uses it." Aeris still was neither upset nor afraid. "Don't worry about it Sephiroth, like I said, you've done everything you can, so now the torch must be passed to others. I'll be able to handle things from here."
There was something dreadfully wrong about this place, it had slowly crept up on him, but it was impossible to deny. It sapped the strength and motivation from his limbs. "Where are we?" He tried with all his might to move his hands but had no success.
"We're in the Forest of the Ancients. Through here it's just a short walk to the City of the Ancients. I'm not quite here yet either, but don't worry, I will be soon. I'll take care of everything for once Sephiroth." She turned and walked off, leaving Sephiroth alone, and unable to follow her.
------------------------
Sephiroth slowly woke up, everything was hazy at first, but he finally it all came into view. Mirri, James, Vincent, Niro and Melkore where standing around him. James was the first to speak. "Glad to see you finally opened your eyes Seph, I was getting kind of worried." Sephiroth asked two questions before he even had time to marshal his thoughts.
"How long have I been asleep, where's Aeris?" /You have slept for three days Silverfang. The Child of Gaia is gone.\ As Sephiroth sat up he saw that Alex in his natural form was sitting by the bed Sephiroth was in. Sephiroth instantly shot out questions as they came to him. "Where are we? How long has she been missing, how did she leave?"
The answer came back mixed from various throats as everyone's answers overlapped. "She left not long after we got here." "We're in Gongaga Master, it was the closest place to the Temple." "She fing took the Eagle with her!" Sephiroth felt a migraine forming. Aeris had a three day head start, and she had the Eagle, she was probably already on the northern continent.
"Then we don't have a chance in hell of catching her." Sephiroth wanted to go back into that three day sleep he had been in; at least he didn't have new problems getting thrown at him in it. "Actually Sephiroth we do, Niro and I came up with the plan. By which I mean, I came up with it, and Niro will implement it. What does this look like?"
Sephiroth looked up to see Mirri reaching into a pocket of her white jacket, and producing an odd sheet of paper. It was filled with crisscrossing lines and various names, all leading up to a picture of an odd looking chocobo. "What is that?" Mirri suppressed a thrill: she loved being the first to know something. "It's a pedigree. I bought it while we were in the Gold Saucer with all the points me and Alex won. It's the pedigree for the breeding of a gold chocobo."
"Mirri we don't have time for that, we don't have any chocobos to start with." Mirri displayed the fine art of building momentum in a conversation rolling right over Sephiroth's response. "That's where Niro comes in. You see, this sheet of paper provides Niro with enough information for, guess what?" As she spoke, Niro shifted. It was indeed, no ordinary chocobo, its feathers glistened with golden shine that made Sephiroth's eyes water.
In the blink of an eye he was out of the bed, and instantly mounted the chocobo. "Mirri, you're in charge, get up to Costa Del Sol by foot, we'll wait for you." Before Niro could be off, a second figure joined Sephiroth on the chocobo. "Don't think you'll put an entire continent between us, Master." Sephiroth turned around, and took a moment to examine Vincent, Sephiroth hadn't eaten in three days, but it was even more obvious with Vincent.
Despite the strength in his voice he was looking a very unhealthy 40, the way Sephiroth would probably look if his Jenova cells didn't let him go for a week without eating. /Typical humans. Always rushing somewhere too fast, only to realize you've gone so far that you can't keep going forward and need to double back."
The words started in Alex's traditional wordless telepathic communication, mutated into a half human half wolf growl, and finally finished being spoken in the gruff bass that accompanied Alex's human form. This vocal transformation mirrored his physical one, yet somehow his words never lost their clarity. Alex more hefted himself onto the chocobo then managed to mount it, and his presence pushed Sephiroth forward slightly.
Niro gave a "Wark!" of irritation at Alex's presence, apparently even gold chocobos weren't meant to carry three people at once. "You don't have a chance without my help Silverfang, only a Cetra can guide you through the Forest of the Ancients." Sephiroth took a long hard look at Mirri, James, and Melkore as if daring any of them to insist that they had a reason to accompany them as well.
No one did, so Sephiroth got a tight grip on Niro with his legs, opting not to risk a handhold. Vincent did the same, followed by Alex. Sephiroth gave a starting kick to Niro, and then they where off at an almost blinding speed.
------------------------
Niro collapsed on the ground breathing hard; that was not an experience he wanted to repeat. He reverted to his normal form and cast an irritated glare at his three passengers. "Okay guys, I'm spent, you walk from here." Alex shifted back to his natural form, he seemed as glad to have the experience over as Niro was.
/Congratulation, Shapeshifter, you just put most Silent Striders to shame.\ "If I could afford to lose my lunch, I would." "We don't have time to sit here waiting." Niro rolled over so that neither Alex or Vincent could see his smirk. "Okay guys, good luck, I'll wait here for a while before I make the return trip for James, Mirri, and Melkore." Niro's part was done for now, it felt good to rest.
------------------------
If the vampire had realized just how useless his presence was on this mission was, it would be proceeding much more smoothly. As it was, Alex had to guide not one, but two beings with Wyrm taint in them through a forest designed to stop exactly such beings. Gaia seemed to be in a particularly angry and vengeful mood of recent days, but then, Alex understood that completely.
A wolf was never more dangerous then when it was backed into a corner. Gaia understood the danger it was in, even if the only thing it could do in response was lash out in blind anger at anything it could reach. Alex kept his nose low to the ground, and was constantly forced to tap his gnosis to find his way through the forest. The strand of gnosis was constantly being battered from all sides by the forest, which was attempting to prevent him from doing just that.
Of course if Alex was having a hard time in his situation, the Silverfang and Vampire had it even worse. Each step they took was a pathetic slow hobble as if they where lame in one leg and wounded in the other. They were practically crawling across the ground on their hands and knees. "Alex, how much farther is it?"
The Silverfang was drained in voice as well as in body. /We should be almost through the forest by now.\ "Good, because I feel like a need a bloody Mary, light on the Mary." /Vampire, kindly keep your pathetic attempts at humor to yourself, I have to keep my mind focused to make this work. If you distract me we could spend the rest of our lives wandering in this place.\
As Alex spoke, he almost lost his grip on his strand of Gnosis but as it was about to slip from his mind, he seized it again with a vengeance. With each step they drew closer. Suddenly it happened, Alex's strand of Gnosis exploded to life. Alex slowly looked up, the forest was now behind them, they were out.
It was, ironically, at this point that the Silverfang and Vampire both finally collapsed on the ground, as if holding onto it for dear life, because this time the ground stayed still. Alex allowed himself a satisfied smile, he had done his part.
------------------------
Aeris kept her hands tightly together as she spoke the words that she did not truly know. She could hear the footsteps of people drawing closer, but it didn't mater. The materia nested in her braid was starting to glow with warmth. She knew it was turning green as she spoke. She smiled as she heard them approach, she had done her job, it was up to others now.
------------------------
Sephiroth cursed as he descended down the stairs into the city. Aeris was sitting on the ground, with her hands grasped in payer. As he went down the stairs he saw Strife, perched a few yards above her. He drew his blade and leapt, descending straight for Aeris. No, Sephiroth wouldn't allow this, he would stop it one way or another.
Sephiroth threw all the speed he had into the effort as he dashed towards Aeris. Masamune was in his hands, and he leapt for Aeris as Strife dropped towards her. Sephiroth got there first, assuming a defensive crouch over Aeris, ready to deflect the blow, sadly he failed. The Planet, perhaps still angry that he had survived the forest, sent a shock through his body, dropping him o one knee just as the blades met.
The blade was deflected slightly, it slammed through Sephiroth's chest, and then into Aeris' back. Sephiroth growled to himself, that was all he could do, it would be up to other's to pickup where he had failed.
------------------------
Vincent felt a twinge of pain go through his body as that foolish boy stabbed his Master. That pathetic child would pay for this. Vincent increased his pace and was instantly at the side of Master and Aeris. The child drew his sword out from Masters' body, an action that forced a hiss from Vincent's mouth. "YOU DARE HARM MY MASTER? DIE!" The child attempted to slash Vincent with his sword, but Vincent easily blocked it with his claw.
At the same time he had already brought up his pistol in his right hand. "BLAM!" Now it was the child's turn to learn the meaning of pain. "BLAM." One bullet in each of the child's lungs, he dropped his sword, which clattered on the ground, before it fell from the pedestal into the water below. The child was still staring, as if surprised that Vincent could harm him. "BLAM!" Vincent put his third bullet in the child's chest, right through his left kidney. "BLAM!" If he didn't die from not being able to breath, then he would expire from the build up of poisonous chemicals in his own body.
He still stared at Vincent in mute horror as the vampire stepped forward. "Now be a good lad, and take one small step for mankind." Vincent gave him the assistance of a nice solid push.
The child lost his footing on the platform, and joined his blade in the water below. Vincent couldn't stop a slow smile from coming to his lips. He had saved his Master, he had done his job, what happened next was in the hands of others.
------------------------
Aeris lay on her back, she was on the platform, but everyone was gone. She lay on her back, pain pulsating up her body because of the wound in her back. The platform was levitating over nothing, even the water was gone, but a silver light drifted all around her. /Your name?\
It was the Planet's voice, but it was different. This was the first time that she had been able to fully understand the voice. It was the first time that it had not just spoken to her, but it was the first time it had asked her a question. Was this because she was about to die, and she was about to enter the Lifestream? She didn't know, but she answered anyway.
"Aeris, Aeris Gainsborough." Somehow, regardless of her wound she didn't have much trouble breathing or speaking. /Do you want to live?\ The pain seemed to be fading away somehow, she must be dieing. "To live, life..." The Planet's voice came back even more insistent then before. /Do you wish to live for eternity?\
Live forever, did she want that? To just go on, and on and on, and on? Like Vincent, like Niro, like Melkore, like Mirri, like James, like Alex, like Sephiroth. The silver light was dancing closer and closer to her, somehow asking her to touch it. "Eternity, I don't know?"
The Planet's voice wasn't quite correct, she knew it wasn't with the next question. It was like a mixture of the Planet's voice and Alex's. /Do you wish to be disabled and incomplete forever?\ "Incomplete..." What else could she say, what else could she think/Do you not wish to be a perfect being?\
"I want... I want... that which the Planet has intended for me, and I now finally have a chance to posses." The silver light drew closer and closer, it almost brushed up against her body. At the same time the pain from the wound in her chest became brutally clear. "I, who, could die, the chance to live again, I don't want to be a victim any longer."
Once more the voice struck her with that same question as before. /Do you wish to live for eternity?\ What else could she say? The image of Sephiroth leaning over her body flashed before her eyes. Her alpha had told her to live, she couldn't disobey a command from her alpha what would the pack say? She hook her head weakly, it was filled with thoughts that weren't her own, were they? "I want to live... for eternity."
A moment later, the silver light suddenly consumed her. It engulfed her body, and Aeris screamed in pain. Her entire body twisted and contorted as the silver light made itself a part of her. As it happened to her, Aeris was slowly able to realize something through the mind numbing pain, the wound in her back no longer hurt her.
------------------------
Dam it, this wasn't fair. Sephiroth had done every single thing he could think of, and he had still failed. When the time had come he had even attempted to block the blow with his own body, and that had not been enough. Damn the weakness the Planet had struck him with for daring to enter the sleeping forest. It rendered him useless when he was most needed. He and Aeris had suffered almost the exact same wounding pattern, but that didn't matter.
He was General Sephiroth, he was above simple Jenova and mako enhancements. To him that chest wound regardless of how big, was of no importance, it wouldn't even leave a scar by tomorrow morning. But she was only a half Cetra, and half human. That wound would kill her. Damn it, Sephiroth wasn't about to have Aeris die when they had done everything they could to keep her alive. Didn't she have any respect for their efforts?
/The Child of Gaia will survive Silverfang, step away from her if you please?\ Just like Alex. Sephiroth had practically flown down the stairs to reach Aeris in time. Vincent had followed suit once Sephiroth had been hurt. Alex had yet to break his leisurely sedate pace as he had made his way down to them. "No she won't Alex, she doesn't have any kind of regeneration, unlike you or me."
Alex laughed, or as much as you could call his bark for displaying humor a laugh. /Funny you should you say 'she doesn't have any regeneration like me' that's exactly what she has. Moments of great stress, anger, or any other emotion can help trigger the first change. Strong emotion mixed with grievous injuries that could pose a threat to the wolf's life? A surefire way to trigger the first change, regardless of how late it is. Just take a look.\
Sephiroth turned around, and saw it happening. Saw limbs twisting in a way that seemed decidedly unnatural. There was that fur, the same shade of reddish brown as Aeris' hair, slowly spreading across her body. Most importantly however, Sephiroth could clearly see, that the wound in her chest was knitting closed with the same kind of speedy regeneration that had saved Sephiroth's life so many times.
With complete authority over the situation, Alex walked right past Sephiroth and tuned to create a horizontal barrier six and a half feet long between Sephiroth and Aeris. /Get out of here now, Silverfang. Of all the embellished stories your people have about my kind, most stem from a grain of truth. Phases of the moon have to do with shifts but don't demand them, our weakness to silver, and during the first change, they give into the inner wolf. Step away, now.\
Vincent didn't have to be told twice, Sephiroth could feel the vampire drawing away but he didn't. He watched as fur continued to grow, and green eyes transformed into golden yellow ones like Alex's. He was in charge, whatever happened, it was his job to experience whatever pain those who served him did.
Fur grew, bones, sinew and muscles twisted into new locations. Hands became paws, as the opposable thumb drifted back into the palm. The paws grew claws, the tail bone developed a more literal purpose, nose elongated, pupils contracted slightly. Finally the transformation was complete, the wolf that was Aeris slowly got to its (or her) feet, and growled at Sephiroth's its fur bushing out, it's ears pressed forward in attack.
The six-and-a-half foot silver barrier between them suddenly turned it's head from Sephiroth to Aeris. No sounds were uttered, though Sephiroth thought he was able to detect psychic communication, even if it wasn't much more then white noise, and then it happened. Aeris' ears twitched backwards, and her entire body drew back, trying to make herself as small as possible. Alex leaned forward, and Aeris slowly rubbed the top of her jaw against the bottom of Alex's. Alex turned around and cast a look that was far too human for a wolf to be giving him.
A look that said "Someone here knows what they're doing, and it isn't you, is it?" Then he turned his attention back to Aeris who was still trying to make herself as small as possible. /Get out of here Silver Fang. She recognizes me as her Alpha like this, you're nothing but a human to her right now, and one with Wyrm taint at that.\ Sephiroth paused for a moment, and then finally turned around and walked away. A wry smile slowly came to his face, maybe when it was all put together, it wasn't up to someone else. They were the ones who could decide their own destiny.
OWAN: There. It's an update. Decided not to cliffhanger you guys, although some of you deserve it. If you still remember us after this long, then we're doing better than I thought. Haven't decided when to release the first deleted scenes/outtakes reel. We'll get to it eventually.