Final Fantasy VII: The Story 2nd Instalment
Emerald Princess of Vernea
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cloud had already begun to act. His hand was already on his sword, slowly drawing it from the strap across his back. On either side of him, he could see the monster's hands slowly beginning to snake towards him. He knew what the monster was now. It was known as 'Demon Gate'—a demonic monster summoned by powerful magic in order to protect the entrances and exits to temples and other buildings. Disguised as a wall or door, the monster lured intruders into a false sense of security, and attacked when they were close enough. The only way to tell it apart from the actual landscape was the betraying warmth of its body.
Cloud sprang forward, leaping away from the monster's grasp. The claws thrust forward, trying to grab him. Cloud felt the monster's claws rake across his arms, digging into his flesh. Five paper-thin slits of red streaked his upper arms, three on his left, two on his right, as the claws cut across him. The Demon Gate's hands were unable to get a proper grip on him, however, and Cloud ran clear.
Sliding to a stop, Cloud turned and faced the Demon Gate, his Buster Sword raised above his head. He mustered all the power of his materia into his sword and it crackled with the intense energy. When he thrust the blade down that energy was released, firing in a single curved beam toward the Demon Gate.
The Blade Beam struck the monster in the centre of its head. A deep gash formed in the middle of its brow, though its rocky form allowed no blood to seep from the wound. After striking the head, the beam of energy then split into two more beams, each flying in opposite directions toward the monster's hands. The beams sliced through the thinner arms with ease, leaving them as rocky stubs on the floor.
Recoiling from the pain in its head and the loss of its arms, the Demon Gate shuddered and moved back, the wall part of its body scraping across the floor as it moved. Unable to use its claws, it was a more vulnerable target. Cloud was about to raise his sword in preparation for another powerful Blade Beam attack that would finish off the monster for good, when someone else darted forward.
It was Red XIII. The hound was charging at full speed toward the monster, moving so fast that the air around him began to whoosh and whistle piercingly. The monster did not have time to react or brace itself for the attack. Red XIII leaped forward, using his momentum to boost him forward so that he was nothing more than a blur of red dashing across their vision. Then, with a flash, Red XIII disappeared.
Everyone waited, wondering what had become of Red XIII. The Demon Gate stood frozen, rooted to the spot where it stood. Not a breath escaped from anyone's lips. They stood poised, hands not even on their weapons, waiting.
Then, something began to happen to the Demon Gate. A big crack appeared in the wall-like form above its head. It was a small crack at first, but as they watched it grew larger and larger, spreading downward. The monster did not react as the crack reached its body protruding from the rock and continue to spread. The crack moved down toward the monster's head, creating a deep split all the way down the middle, continuing to move until it finally touched the floor.
More cracks began to spread in all directions from the centre, reaching out to the outer walls, floor and ceiling. Finally, the Demon Gate fell apart, crumbling into rocky debris that scattered across the corridor floor, revealing the path that had been hidden beyond.
Standing on the other side of the broken wall was Red XIII.
"I'll handle the rest!" said Cait once he had gotten everyone's attention. They were all gathered around Red XIII, patting him on the head and back as praise for defeating the Demon Gate. Cait Sith directed his Mog to bounce across the floor toward the door that led to the clock. "Well, everyone…" he said with a hint of sadness. "Take care of yourselves!" He began to walk toward the door.
Seeing Cait about to leave to make his sacrifice for them, Aeris couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. True, the cat was a Shinra employee in disguise, and had betrayed them by giving the Keystone to the Shinra, but she couldn't help but feel sad that this stuffed cat was about to give his life so they could get the Black Materia.
"Cait…" she whispered softly. A tear formed in her eyes. Despite his faults, she could not help but like the jovial, fortune-telling cat. Unable to bear it any longer, Aeris ran over to Cloud and tugged on his arm. "Come on, Cloud…" she pleaded. "Say something."
Cloud looked over at Cait. Cait, standing by the door, was looking back at Cloud with a hopeful expression in his eyes—if indeed they could express emotion. Although he was just a remote controlled cat, there was something about him that made him seem more alive. In truth, Cloud also felt a little regret at treating the cat so coldly. He deserved it, but deep down Cloud was also sorry to see the cat go like this.
He opened his mouth to say what he thought, but found that he choked when the words came out. Scratching his head and looking away in embarrassment, he said, "I'm not good at this."
A small smile touched Cait's face. "Hmm, I understand," he said, nodding his head. "I feel the same too." Even though he knew that he had another body prepared once his job was done, he could not help but feel like he was saying goodbye to them for the last time. In a way he was, in this body at least. A new body would make it seem like he was meeting them again for the first time. Of course… he added to himself with a chuckle, they don't know that I'm coming back.
"Why don't you read our fortunes?" suggested Aeris, running over to him.
Cait blinked in confusion, then smiled the memory of his cover came back to him. "Say, that's right…" he said with a laugh. "I haven't done it in a while, huh?" He rocked back and forth rapidly on top of his Mog, holding his feet with his hands. "I'm so excited. Right or wrong, I'm still the same ol' me." Coughing himself to seriousness, the cat sat astride his Mog and grasped at the controls that managed his fortune telling. "Now, what should I predict?"
Aeris frowned in thought for a moment. Then with a click of her fingers, she ran across the floor and stood beside Cloud. "Hmm, let's see how compatible Cloud and I are!" she said with a playful glint in her eye. Cloud stared at her in puzzlement, while to one side Tifa stamped her foot angrily on the ground and turned away stubbornly.
"That'll cost ya!" Cait told her, winking teasingly. "Exactly one date!" Before Cloud could protest, Aeris nodded her agreement. Cloud turned his head to one side to hide the embarrassed flush that was spreading across his cheeks. Cait nodded. "Here I go!" he announced.
Tifa turned back in time to see Cait swinging back and forth across his Mog, moving the controls just so that the Mog moved in opposition to him. She didn't realise it, but her heart was beating fast as she secretly prayed with all her heart on the answer that Cait would come up with. When Cait finished his little act and the result came out, she crossed her fingers.
Leaning over as far as he could go, Cait took the result from the Mog's hand and had a good look over it. After reading the result, he gave Tifa a sideward glance, noting the hopeful expression hidden in her eyes. Turning away, he said with an apologetic tone, "This isn't good. I can't say it. Poor Tifa."
Once again Tifa stamped her foot and turned away.
Aeris was unperturbed by Tifa's obvious discomfort. "No! Tell me! I promise I won't get mad!"
It's not you he's worried about making mad, Tifa thought bitterly to herself.
Cait raised an eyebrow. Then he smiled. "Is that so? Then I'll tell you." He coughed to clear his throat, and then made his prediction. "Looks good. You are perfect for each other! Aeris's star and Cloud's star! They show a great future!" Ignoring the increasing flush on Cloud's face and sniggers from Barret and Cid, the cat continued, "Cloud, I'll be your matchmaker, preacher… I'll do whatever you want me to! You just call me when it all happens!" Barret guffawed loudly.
Feeling that enough time had been wasted now, Cait turned to leave. Before he could step through the door, a thought suddenly occurred to him. He sagged heavily on his Mog. "Thank you for believing in me, knowing that I was a spy," he said. "This is the final, final farewell!"
Then the cat hopped through the door and disappeared into the shadows. Just as the cat disappeared from sight, Aeris ran forward and shouted into the darkness:
"Be strong, Cait!!"
"She told me to 'Be strong'," Cait whispered softly to himself as he bounded steadily across the floor of the chamber. Even as he hopped, a smile spread on his furry face. "I feel so happy."
At the end of the chamber was the altar, just as they had left it. No sign of Sephiroth, no sign of any red dragons. Good. That meant the only thing left to do was solve the puzzles and retrieve the Black Materia from the Temple.
To his surprise, Cait did not feel the least bit scared about what was going to happen. He knew that this task would crush this Mog-and-cat form to death—that it would end up as a tiny, microscopic speck inside the Black Materia. Yet the thought of the Temple crushing him did not frighten him. That possibly had something to do with the fact that he was not really dying—just going offline and connecting to another form. He felt no pain, no hunger, and therefore would feel nothing upon being crushed. But… more than that… Cait felt that it was because of those three words Aeris had said upon his departure.
'Be strong, Cait!!'
Lost in his thoughts Cait did not notice that his hands were going awry on the controls. Before he knew it his Mog body had tripped up over its own feet and he was tumbling to the floor. He landed face first on the stone floor. His megaphone fell from his hands and skittered across the floor.
"Owwww……" Cait complained.
Slowly, Cait began to push himself back up, first of all using his own hands and then those of the Mog's until he was standing up again. Normally it was an awkward task, but this time it seemed easier. For no real reason Cait lifted his arms and those of the Mog into the air, revelling in the freedom of movement that came from it. What was this? He could still move easily, despite the fall. And even more, it felt easier to move now than it had ever done. Did the fall do this, or was it something else? He felt as though he had changed somewhat. But he couldn't have changed…
……Could he……?
"I can still move more," he commented aloud, meaning his freedom of movement. After a few energetic jumps into the air that even the agile Yuffie would have been proud of, Cait blushed in embarrassment, scratched his head and began to walk across the floor toward the altar.
"This must be it," he said to himself as he stopped in front of the altar. He leaned over to inspect it. It really did seem so small. "The Ancients sure did a great job making this. I can protect the Planet too!" Sitting back on his Mog, he scratched his head again. "I'm kinda embarrassed… There's plenty of stuffed toys like my body around, but there's only one me!" He stood up and shouted to the sky. "Don't forget me even if another Cait comes along." Nodding confidently to himself, he turned to the altar. "Goodbye, then! I guess I'm off to save the Planet…"
On the other side of the bridge, Cloud and the others watched in silence as the ground beneath them began to shake. The great roaring, ripping sound could be heard again, this time so deep beneath the ground it came out as more of a low rumble than a horrifying screech. Aeris clasped her hands together firmly, thinking of the spirits whose home was being disturbed and praying for their safe passage into the Lifestream.
As they watched, a black-green glow began to radiate from the Temple. The glow spread until it covered the entirety of the Temple, leaving it as nothing more than a shadow among the forest. The ground began to shake more violently and the roaring sound grew louder. Eventually some of the group had to hold onto trees and each other to save from falling over. A wind picked up, blowing around the Temple furiously.
"What's happening!?" Yuffie cried fearfully, her arms wrapped around a tree.
No one heard her, for her words were drowned out by the growing wind. The trees were whipped from side to side, leaves were ripped off their branches and blown away in the wind. Twigs and rocks filled the air, scratching their faces and hands as they struggled to hold their ground. The bridge was being thrown up and down, barely able to hold onto its posts.
The darkness shrouding the Temple intensified, and lightning began to flash around the top of the Temple from dark clouds that had formed around it. Within the depths of the shadows they were just able to see the Temple begin to shrink, quaking as though the ground were being pulled from beneath it. The lightning intensified as the wind grew stronger, until all they could hear was the wind and crack of lightning. The flying debris became so constant that they were forced to close their eyes.
Then, suddenly, the wind ceased. An eerie stillness fell upon the forest, and for a few moments none of the group dared move in case it started again and they were blown from their feet. The lightning had stopped flashing, and not even its static energy could be felt on the air. The ground had stopped shaking. Everyone was deathly still.
Aeris was the first to open her eyes and look ahead. She released Barret, whom she had clung to for support, and very cautiously climbed to her feet. The ground was still level, which was a good thing, though it was shaky to walk upon, but that was just her fear taking over. She walked forward and looked upon the Temple. Or where there was once a Temple.
There was no Temple anymore. The spot where the Temple of the Ancients had stood was now empty. It had completely vanished. In the Temple's place was a deep, hollow pit, although how far down it went Aeris could not tell. She could not even tell if Cait had succeeded before the Temple inevitably crushed his body. That thought saddened her. She hoped her words had reached him before he left.
The others had all stood now, although it took some effort from Barret to get Yuffie to release her death grip on the tree she was clinging to. Quietly and solemnly the group moved forward across the bridge, which had miraculously remained intact during the sudden storm, and ran to the edge of the pit.
The pit was not as deep as it first appeared. It went down only about fifty feet or so, and the pit was covered in rocky ledges that made it easy to climb down. Lying at the bottom of the pit was their prize: the Black Materia. The materia shone in the afternoon light—an iridescent black ball amidst the rock. There was no sign of Cait.
"That's the Black Materia…" said Cloud, his voice barely above a whisper. He was too in awe of the sight of the Black Materia. He felt Aeris stand beside him, equally in awe at the sight of the powerful Materia.
"Hey!" came Barret's gruff voice from behind them. "I'll keep watch up here!"
Looking at the others, they all nodded in agreement. As an Ancient, they felt it was Aeris's duty and right to go down and retrieve the Materia that her spiritual ancestors and kin had protected for so long. And as leader of the group, it was only right that Cloud should accompany her down into the pit, despite Tifa's glare.
The rest of the companions stood guard around the pit's entrance as Cloud and Aeris began their descent. They kept a close eye on the forest, watching for any signs of Shinra thugs heading their way. So far there was no sign of anyone, and so they all relaxed a little and turned to look into the pit. Cloud and Aeris had reached the bottom and were stood around the Black Materia.
"As long as we have this, Sephiroth won't be able to use Meteor," Cloud said, smiling in relief. He bent over and picked the materia up. It was lighter than he expected—very smooth and very cool. He looked inside but could see no image; there was only blackness. As he was turning it over in his hands, he was struck with a sudden thought. "Mmm? Can you guys use it?" he asked Aeris.
"Nope," replied Aeris. "We can't use it right now. You need great spiritual power to use it."
"You mean lots of spiritual energy?"
"That's right. One person's power alone won't do it. Somewhere special. Where there's plenty of the Planet's energy…" Aeris folded her arms in thought as she sought to find a good example of where she meant. The most obvious choice popped into her head. "Oh yeah! The Promised Land!"
"The Promised Land!!" exclaimed Cloud. Of course! The Promised Land would be filled with the Planet's life energy. With all that energy in the Promised Land it would be easy to summon Meteor. He looked down at the Black Materia, resting perfectly in his gloved hands. "No, but…"
Sensing his fear, Aeris laid a comforting hand on his arm and shook her head. "Sephiroth is different," she told him. "He's not an Ancient." She knew that now.
"He shouldn't be able to find the Promised Land," said Cloud.
"Ah, but I have."
A familiar flash of white light from high above made Aeris and Cloud jump up in fright. Instinctively Cloud grasped the Black Materia close to him as he looked up to the top of the pit, unaware of the pulsing pain in the back of his head. Around the edge of the pit, Barret and the others had also jumped up and were now rushing to draw their weapons. Even with their weapons drawn, none could reach the leather-clad figure that was hovering at a safe distance above the pit.
"I'm far superior to the Ancients," said Sephiroth as he drifted steadily above the pit. "I became a traveller of the Lifestream and gained the knowledge and wisdom of the Ancients. I also gained the knowledge and wisdom of those after the extinction of the Ancients. And soon, I will create the future."
"I won't let you do it!" Aeris yelled. "The future is not only yours!"
Sephiroth's green-tinged eyes wandered slowly over the group of fighters gathered around the edge of the pit. Each one was staring at him in awe, anger… and fear. He smiled to himself, relishing in their fear. His eyes fell upon Aeris… The last survivor of the ancient race known as the Cetra… She held her head high, and though she was covered in dirt and scratches from the battles she had fought in the Temple, she showed no fear when she looked at him. Standing beside her was Cloud… the Black Materia resting in his hands.
"Ha ha ha… I wonder?" he mused. He looked down and stared at Cloud. "Wake up!"
A second bright flash of light zipped through the air. A searing pain shot through Cloud's mind, blinding his vision and making red dots of light dance before his eyes. He lost all sense of what was around him, although he had the vague sensation of falling—a sharp pain in his knees. His fingers grasped onto something smooth and round in his palm…
The Black Materia!
The pain was becoming unbearable. Cloud grasped at his head, his nails digging into the skin of his scalp as though he could stop the pain by clawing it out of his mind. All the while the red dots danced and flickered before his vision. The voice that spoke to him through the waves of pain offered him release and rest… if he would just give him the Black Materia.
"Sh… shut up!" Cloud shouted at the voice. The pain increased. Cloud cried out.
With a malevolent smile on his soft lips, Sephiroth floated gently down into the pit. The others, standing around the edge, found they did not have the strength to use their weapons as he floated past them. Sephiroth landed gracefully on the floor of the pit, slowly sinking to his knees as he knelt before Cloud, who still knelt with his hands pressed against his head. The malevolent smile softened into a sympathetic smile—like that of an older brother reaching out to his younger brother after he has fallen off his bike and grazed his knee.
"There, Cloud…" Sephiroth said with surprising tenderness. "Good boy."
The pain heightened, and now a piercing whistle was added to the mixture of noise that was zapping through Cloud's brain. By now Cloud could barely feel his body or the Black Materia that was still in his hand. Blood seeped underneath his nails as he tried in vain to blot out the sounds screaming in his head. Through all the noise and the pain was Sephiroth's calm, gentle voice offering escape.
"The… Noise…" Cloud managed to gasp.
He tried to open his eyes. Amid the dancing lights and blotches of blackness, he could just about see the ground at his feet. It was closer than he remembered. A couple of feet away he saw a leather-gloved hand reaching out to him, palm up. All remembrance of who he was, where he was, and what he held vanished from his mind. The only thing in his mind was the voice… Reunion… Black Materia…
Shakily Cloud lowered his hands, unaware of the blood that ran between his fingertips. He climbed to his feet, dizzy and staggering. Then he began to move slowly forward, his empty eyes searching for the hand that was reaching out to him. He mumbled something incoherently. "Wa……aaa……aaa…"
"No……!"
Cloud stopped. Had he heard a voice calling out to him? It sounded hazily familiar. Almost like his own voice. Where had he heard that voice before? He tried to remember. As he thought, the other voice spoke again, more harshly. Pushing his thoughts aside, Cloud continued forward. The hand was visible now, just inches away from him. The pain would be gone soon.
"Don't be afraid--!" the second voice screamed again.
This time Cloud didn't hear the voice. The hand was in reach now. Unconsciously, Cloud reached out his right hand. He felt something slip from his grasp and drop into the outstretched hand. The leather-bound hand closed around the Black Materia and pulled away from him.
Sephiroth stood up, looking down at the Black Materia that he finally held in his hand. Cloud knelt at his feet, weak, trembling, and shaking. "……Well done," he said, slipping the Black Materia safely into his pocket.
Without so much as a warning, Sephiroth suddenly flew up into the air, disappearing from view even before the group had realised he had gone. Cloud remained on the floor, his blue eyes wide in an expression of pure horror. What had he done!? His fingers dug into the dirt-covered floor as though he could bury himself away from this horrible dream. All the while, he was aware of a young voice—his young voice—crying bitterly beside him.
"Cloud, are you all right?"
Cloud barely recognised Aeris's voice. He barely recognised anything. He was just becoming aware of the enormity of what he had just done. He had just willingly given the Black Materia to the one person most in the world they were trying to keep it away from. Why!? Why did he do that!?
"…I gave the Black Materia to Sephiroth…?" he asked, although he was barely aware that he was speaking. Nor was he aware of Aeris's presence behind him, kneeling next to him, her hand on his shoulder.
He tried to move, but a sudden wave of pain and wooziness overwhelmed him and he toppled backward. Quickly Aeris caught him and held him up, her arms wrapped gently around him like a mother cradling a child. She ran a hand through his spiky blond hair, wishing she could do something ease his pain. A hand grabbed her wrist and held it tightly. Looking down, she could see that Cloud's eyes were glistening with tears as he looked up at her, frantically seeking some solace.
"Wha… what did I do… tell me, Aeris," he pleaded.
"Cloud… be strong, okay?" she said to him softly, continuing to stroke his hair.
Pushing her hand away, Cloud struggled to stand up. He did not even manage a few steps before he toppled forward again, falling to his knees. His bloody, scratched fists punched the dirt hard.
"Urrrrrrgh… What have I done!?" he yelled. He thumped the dirt again.
"Cloud…" Aeris stood up and ran to Cloud's side. "You haven't done anything wrong. It's not your fault!"
The pain was returning, along with the irritatingly soft voice that spoke so smoothly and yet whose words were poison in his veins. Cloud shook his head fiercely. No… He would not do that! The pain increased again, and the voice spoke more firmly. Cloud found himself beginning to stand up, even though he tried with all his willpower to stay firmly on the ground.
"I…! I'm-----!" Cloud stammered.
Suddenly Cloud spun around to face Aeris, who was standing beside him. With an angry snarl he grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and flung her against the rocky wall of the pit, making her cry out in pain. Her jacket was torn by the rock. Fear filled the Ancient's eyes as she saw the hate-filled look in Cloud's face and the strength with which he gripped her. Glaring at her angrily, Cloud raised his hand and struck her harshly across the face. The slap left red marks across Aeris's left cheek. Cloud did not seem to notice, and he struck her again… and again… and again.
"What!? Cloud!" cried a voice from above.
The others all stared in horror as they watched Cloud slap Aeris continually across the face. The Ancient did not struggle or cry out, and Cloud did not seem to even realise that he was striking her. As they watched a figure emerged from the bushes behind them, and the familiar figure of Cait Sith—now controlling his new body—bounded toward the edge of the pit. Looking down at the affair below, he bit his lip.
"Oops! This looks like I came at a bad time! I'm Cait Sith No. 2. Right pleased to meet you all!"
Ignoring Cait's unexpected return, Yuffie took it upon herself to end the pointless beating going on below. Leaving her Razor Ring shuriken on the ground, she expertly leaped off the ledge and began to jump down the ridges to the bottom of the pit. Cloud was still striking Aeris, unyielding.
"Cloud--!! Cloud, what are you doing!?" Tifa called.
"Urrggggggh!!!!" Barret roared, shaking his fists in rage. "Cloud!! HEY! Cloud, you #$#$!"
Yuffie finally reached the bottom of the pit and darted across the dirt toward Cloud and Aeris. Aeris's cheeks were red raw, and her lip was bleeding. Yet Cloud continued to strike her.
"Aeris! Cloud, what're you doing!?"
Grabbing Cloud by his shoulder, Yuffie spun him around to face her. Before he knew what was coming, she had clenched her fist and aimed a direct punch to his stomach. Her fist connected with a painful crunch, and Cloud crumpled to the floor.
As Cloud fell, all he was aware of was his vision going white…
Emerald: Okay, I really should update more. Once a couple of months isn't going to cut it, I think. Well, here's two chapters for you. The next chapter will be a smaller one, so it should hopefully be up pretty soon. Thanks for being patient, everyone! Just think: we're almost at the end of the first disc!