A NOTE FROM THE AUTHORESS

Disc 01 and Part 08 are finally coming to an end, and I thought it would be nice if I ended this part of the story by making it into a songfic chapter, especially since it's such a touching part of the game. The song I have chosen for this is Pure Heart, by Rikki. If you have not heard this song before, I highly recommend it. This song was listed as a Final Fantasy X song when I found it, and yet it is known as Aerith's theme. I am using both the Japanese lyrics and the English translation.

Thank you all so much for reading the fic this far. It has been almost three years, and we're finally at the end of the first disc. I'm sorry it has taken so long to get here. After this chapter we will finally be in disc two territories. But this instalment does not end here. I will be ending this instalment at the Birth of Weapon.

(Oh, and sorry if I sound a little bit sappy—I'm listening to Pure Heart as I write to keep me in the mood and make sure I don't stray from the level of emotion I want.)

Final Fantasy VII: The Story 2nd Instalment

Emerald Princess of Vernea

Chapter Thirty-Four

The materia fell through the air. Inside its white-green globe there was a turquoise-coloured cloud, swirling and wavering as though overflowing with unknown power. The light from above reflected off its surface, merging with the brilliant glow that was shining from within it. Time itself seemed to slow as it fell.

The mako ball hit the ground with a resounding clang, and bounced back into the air. The sound of its landing could be heard in every part of the Forgotten City, in every room and every tower. The materia bounced again. Each bounce took it closer to the edge of the podium.

Its next bounce took it right over the edge, and the materia disappeared from the views of those standing on the platform. Those not on the platform could see it still, watching in silence as it dropped from pillar to pillar toward the water, the aura of light surrounding it lighting its path. When it finally bounced from the last pillar it fell into the water, slipping beneath its surface and leaving just a small ripple behind. The materia sank into the dark water, its glow of light fading and fading until it could no longer be seen. The materia was gone.

Nagaku tsuzuku kono michi no mukou ni

Shinjirareru mono ga kitto aru

Cloud caught Aeris as she fell. She landed lifelessly in his arms, her eyes closed as though in sleep. She looked as if she could be asleep. Her face was smooth and peaceful, her eyes gently shut and her mouth set in a peaceful smile. But no breath passed through her lips. No pulse of life ran through her veins. Cloud held her gently in his arms, leaning over her face, searching for any sign of life within her.

"…Aeris?" he asked. Aeris did not answer. Her body lay limp in his arms, her head tilted away from him. Long lengths of her brown hair were strewn across her smooth face. Tightening his grip on her hair and arm, Cloud shook her gently, unable to believe that she was gone. He choked. "This can't be real!"

Behind him stood Sephiroth. The son of Jenova stood still, his arms raised valiantly to the sky. His masamune was still in his hand, bloodless, just as Aeris's fatal wound remained bloodless. Sephiroth's face was euphoric, revelling in the feelings he obtained as a new spirit drifted toward the Planet.

"Do not worry," he said. His voice was startlingly gentle, like a mother soothing a wounded child. "Soon the girl will become part of the Planet's energy. All that is left is to go North. The 'Promised Land' waits for me over the snowy fields. There, I will become a new being by uniting with the planet. As will this girl…"

"…Shut up." Cloud was horrified to find that he was shaking. Angrily he bit his lip and tightened his grip further, forcing the shakes to shop. When they were under his control, he looked at Sephiroth. "The cycle of nature and your stupid plan don't mean a thing. Aeris is gone." He looked back at the woman lying lifeless in his arms. "Aeris will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry…… or get angry……"

Kaze no naka no tabibito no you ni

Kita no sora wo mezashite ikeba

Unwelcome tears filled his eyes. Cloud pulled Aeris close to him. He held her as close as he could, hoping that in some way his own wish for her to live would bring her spirit back from the planet, make her heart beat again. Nothing happened. Cloud buried his head in the soft fabric of her jacket to hide his tears.

"What about us…… what are WE supposed to do?" he asked. He lifted his head and laid Aeris as gently as he could onto the floor. "What about my pain?" He took her hand, feeling its slipping warmth. Anger and fear rose in him as he began to shake again. "My fingers are tingling. My mouth is dry. My eyes are burning!"

Sephiroth lowered his arms and looked at Cloud in surprise. "What are you saying? Are you trying to tell me you have feelings too?"

"Of course!" Cloud shouted, ignoring the harsh sound of his voice as it echoed around the Forgotten City. He jumped up and spun round to face Sephiroth. His fists shook with rage. "Who do you think I am!?"

A knowing smile spread on Sephiroth's face, mocking and taunting. He seemed highly amused by Cloud's anger. "Ha, ha, ha… Stop acting as if you were sad," he laughed. "There's no need to act as though you're angry, either."

Sephiroth spread his arms and levitated into the air. He hovered about two metres off the ground, just out of Cloud's reach. He looked down at the ex-SOLDIER, the mocking smile still on his face. "Because, Cloud. You are…"

Suddenly Sephiroth spun in the air and flew straight up, vanishing in the green light. Seconds later a small speck of black appeared in the centre of the light, growing larger as it fell, and dropped by Cloud's feet. It was a piece of dismembered flesh, flopping and twitching as it tried to crawl rapidly toward him with nonexistent claws. Cloud recognised it at once: another piece of Jenova.

The dismembered arm suddenly convulsed, its floppy flesh hardening into rock. That flesh then split open with a crack, unleashing, like before, beams of purple black light that waved around wildly. Once more abnormally dark blood began to creep out of the glowing wound, sliding across the podium and dripping steadily over the edge and down the sides. The blood hissed as it touched the water. The arm sizzled and bubbled as the light engulfed it, growing larger before Cloud's eyes. A tall, familiar shadow could be seen inside the light, looking this way and that. Two small red eyes opened and peered out of the darkness, focusing on Cloud. The light faded.

Kiekaketa atsui omoi

Mou ichido mune no naka de

Kagayaki yureru

Jenova looked different from before. The flesh was redder, as though more blood pumped through its veins, making it seem more alive. More folds of loose flesh hung around the base of its body, folding like a dress made of pure fleshy tissue. It still had only one arm, the tentacle-like strands making up its other side wriggling attentively. All wounds from the previous battle had vanished. She was completely reformed. Jenova looked down at Cloud as Sephiroth did, mocking and unkind. She stepped forward, her folds of skin rustling sickeningly.

Cloud staggered backward and fell to the floor. His hand groped wildly for his sword, which he had dropped when he rushed to take hold of Aeris as she fell. The Buster Sword was out of reach. He forgot about the Murasame still strapped to his back. Jenova loomed over him; drool dripped hungrily from her thin mouth. She reached out to him with her one good arm, it's tail-like tip twitching in anticipation.

Remembering his other sword at last, Cloud whipped it out and swiped it in front of him. Jenova recoiled in pain and screeched, the tip of her tentacle-arm missing. Blood, a mixture of black and red, sprayed from the open wound. Cloud rolled out of the way. He pulled Aeris's body with him, keeping her out of the way of the battle.

Gunshots, growls, and the sound of a chainsaw whirred behind him. Barret and the others had made their way across the pillars and were joining in the battle. Cloud laid Aeris down in a safe spot against the edge of the podium and then ran back to fight with the others.

The others were fighting fiercely, their anger exploding into a rage none of them had ever felt before. Barret, with his hatred of the Shinra for destroying his beloved hometown and killing his wife, had ever felt hatred such as this. Even Vincent, ever calm and mysterious, wore an expression of anger as he leapt through the air toward Jenova and fired his gun.

Namida nante koboshitakunai no

Yowai jibun ni makenai tame ni

A flash of yellow light lit up the podium as Cid summoned the Lightning God Ramuh into the fray. A bolt of lightning struck the water and the god appeared, hovering just a few feet above the water. Although elderly and frail in appearance, powerful electrical energy crackled all over him and made the water beneath his feet ripple. In the old man's hand was a wooden staff that flickered with electrical energy.

Sensing the Jenova's form before him, Ramuh floated higher from the ground until he loomed over her. He raised his staff. Electricity began to flicker and crackle around it, as though the staff were drawing in power from the very air around it. Ramuh waited until the staff was brimming with power before hurtling it down away from him and toward Jenova.

Jenova stiffened as the staff struck, and her screech was cut short into a choking croak. For a moment she froze, paralysed by the lightning that whipped around her. The scent of burning flesh filled the air, and it was not a nice smell.

Ramuh was not the only summon called in to battle. Vincent had summoned Odin—a powerful dark knight who rode upon a terrible stallion. This dark knight was riding on an invisible path through the air toward Jenova as Ramuh's staff electrified her body. While Jenova was paralysed and unable to move, Odin struck.

His large, thick-bladed sword struck Jenova in her side, slicing through the rubbery flesh that made up her right shoulder. The giant, claw-like limb was pulled back as the sword cut, sending showers of blood through the air. Then the limb was torn free, ligaments snapping, and fell to the floor. Odin and Ramuh disappeared, leaving Jenova screeching and shrieking in pain and rage.

Jenova turned her head and saw Red XIII running across the pillars, preparing an attack on her face. Jenova made a guttural growl. A bright blaze of blue light flared before her eyes and a beam of light fired at Red XIII. The hound was hit square in the chest and flew back with an agonised howl. He hit the path beyond the podium and skidded across the floor, slamming into the far wall. Smoke rose from his fur and a painful wound burned on his chest. Red XIII tried to climb to his feet, staggered, and then slid to the floor again, his tail light dim.

Kazaranai kokoro dake ga

Motteiru me ni wa mienai

Ooki na tsubasa

"Red XIII!"

Tifa ran across the podium, jumping over Jenova's swinging foot folds and the pillars to reach Red XIII. She knelt beside the hound, who was lying weakly on the ground. The fur on his chest was black. Hurriedly Tifa delved into one of her pouches and pulled out a small blue bottle. She poured the potion into her hand and quickly rubbed it over the wound. Red XIII winced. The potion sank into the wound, which began to close almost instantly. Red XIII looked up at Tifa feebly and smiled.

The battle against Jenova was becoming more intense. More attacks from Odin, Ramuh, Ifrit and Shiva had opened up more bloody wounds—Jenova was now missing both her shoulder limbs, her left side burned to a crisp by Ifrit's flame. Barret completed the job his summon started with his chainsaw, slicing through the crispy flesh till it fell to the floor. Jenova's tentacle strands tried to grab him as he dropped, but Barret sliced them away.

The summon Yuffie obtained from Wutai proved to be useless against Jenova. When Yuffie summoned the water snake Leviathan and showered her with a tower of water, Jenova simply shook the water off and struck back with a blue flame that almost burned Yuffie where she stood. The ninja leaped aside in the nick of time, although the flame seared her left ankle.

Jenova was attacking wildly now, sending sheets of blue flame in all directions as she tried to kill the group quickly. Every so often she would breath in deeply and send bubbles of ice-cold water after them. She hit Cait with such a bubble, and the robotic animal almost fell from the edge of the podium into the water. Luckily Cait managed to grab the edge of the rail and pull himself to safety.

Te wo hiroge utainagara

Yuukyuu no toki ni dakare

Inochi wo tsunagu

Suddenly the ground beneath Jenova's feet shook wildly as Yuffie tried another magic available to her. Deep cracks burst open at the far end of the podium and formed around Jenova. The ground quivered as the cracks widened, and Jenova shook precariously from side to side, caught off balance by the power of the Earth magic. Part of the ground in front of her jutted suddenly upward, and Jenova tipped backward.

This was their chance. As Jenova began to fall, Vincent leaped up, aimed his gun and fired two shots at Jenova's neck. The bullets hit their mark and Jenova screeched, tipping further back. Then Cloud jumped up from the rail, Murasame ready, and brought the blade down on the beast's thick, fleshy neck.

The Murasame sliced through Jenova's neck, tearing her head from her body. Seconds after Jenova's headless body slammed onto the floor, completely vulnerable on her back. Cloud ran across to where he thought her heart would be, and stabbed down. The body convulsed, then fell still. She was defeated.

Cloud stepped off Jenova's body just as it began to dissolve and melt away. The flesh turned into black and red liquid and seeped into the cracks that covered the end of the podium. The giant chunks of shoulder mass on either side of the podium broke melted and dripped over the sides, landing in the water with a hiss. The last to disappear was Jenova's head, which looked up at Cloud through menacing red eyes. Even as the head began to dissolve, Cloud heard a woman's cold, ominous voice speak softly inside his head.

"Because you are…… a puppet."

"I'm…… a puppet?"

Nagaku tsuzuku kono michi no mukou ni

Shinjarareru mono ga kitto aru

The voice did not answer. Cloud was about to call out and demand an answer, but Jenova's head had completely dissolved. Angrily Cloud turned, but stopped as he saw that everyone had gathered around the body of Aeris as she lay propped against the railing. The Ancient's head had slipped forward and her long hair had fallen over her face. Tifa knelt beside her. Everyone was silent, unsure of what to say or do.

Yuffie was the first to approach Aeris. She stood next to the Ancient and held her hands together over her heart, lowering her head in the respect and reverence that was Wutai tradition for a fallen warrior.

Her prayer over, she turned away and walked over to Cloud. She looked up at him, her brown eyes filling with tears. Suddenly she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder, shaking her head and crying loudly. Cloud held her gently until the tears slowed and Yuffie stepped back, rubbing her eyes and taking deep breaths to compose herself. She failed and ran from the podium, choking back her tears.

Straight on this long, continuing road

There is surely something to believe in

Cloud watched the ninja run, then looked down as he saw Red XIII walking slowly past him. The hound was silent, although Cloud could see that the fur around his eyes was wet. Red XIII looked back at Aeris's sleeping face one last time before jumping onto the pillars. Cid followed suit, also sharing one last glance before walking away.

Cait, in shock, could not say anything. He jumped up wildly, the arms of his Mog flailing about in anger. Eventually the cat stopped and sagged, his head drooping over the controls. When he walked away it was in slow, shuffling steps, pausing to glance at Cloud before leaving.

A tall shadow fell over Cloud, who looked up to see Barret towering over him. The ex-AVALANCHE leader had his gun-arm raised, ready to bring it down on Cloud's head. But then he looked back at Aeris and, feeling suddenly guilty, lowered his arm. Without looking at Cloud, he walked away. Vincent followed him, glancing at Cloud as he passed. Whether it was a cold or sympathetic look, Cloud could not be sure.

Like a traveller in the midst of the wind

I have my eyes on the northern sky

Tifa still knelt beside Aeris. Cloud could not see his childhood friend's face through the long lengths of her dark hair, but he could guess that she was struggling to hold back the tears. Her hands were clenched and shaking, and as Cloud watched he was sure he saw a drop of water fall on them from Tifa's face.

Tifa raised her head and looked up at Aeris. There was not a single drop of blood on her—only the thin line through her clothes where Sephiroth's sword had pierced her. Tifa ran her hand tenderly across Aeris's face, moving the strands of brown hair that had fallen there. Tears filled her eyes. She stood up, closed her eyes for a moment in silent prayer, and then turned and fled the podium.

Cloud was the last to leave the podium. When the others had all left the Forgotten City, he walked over to Aeris and knelt down quietly beside her.

He was afraid to touch her at first, for his hands felt dirty and stained. And indeed they were—Jenova's blood covered his palms. But they felt dirty on another level. There was blood on his palms that could never be washed off. Aeris's blood. Although he had not dealt the stroke that killed her, he felt as though he had done. He had stood by idly as Sephiroth impaled her with his sword, not making a move to save her until she fell dead in his arms. He stood by and did nothing. He let her die.

The passionate feelings that were beginning to vanish

Once again sway radiance in my chest

Shaking his head, Cloud reached out to her. He flinched as he touched her, removing the materia she had equipped in her wristbands and staff. He swallowed his fear and took hold of her, lifting her up in his arms. Aeris's head fell back as he lifted her up from the floor. She was so light, even in death.

He took Aeris's body out of the Forgotten City, climbing the blue steps in silence. He left the house and stepped out into the forest that surrounded it, with the pool in the centre. Tifa and the others were gathered around the entrance of the house. Tifa looked away as she saw Aeris's limp body in Cloud's arms. Yuffie was kneeling on the floor a few feet away, with Cid keeping a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Cloud refused to look at his companions as he walked past. They watched him in silence, with mixed expressions of sadness and anger on their faces. Cloud walked around the edge of the pool until he came to a spot where the ground sloped into the water. Cloud took a deep breath and stepped into the water.

Cloud paused as he entered the water. It lapped around his ankles, cool but not cold, even in the chill night air. Cloud took another breath and began to walk forward toward the centre of the pool. The water rose with each step, from his calves to his thighs, from his hips and to his waist. He finally stopped in the middle of the pool, at the edge of a deep, watery pit.

I don't want the tears to spill

As so not to lose to my weaker self

Slowly Cloud lowered Aeris into the water. He released her and stepped back, feeling a twinge of pain as he watched Aeris's float upon the surface before beginning to sink into the water. He watched as the water rose above her clothes and across her neck. Then the water slipped over her face.

The water took her down, and as she fell Aeris's hair fell completely free of its braid and flowed out around her shoulders and back. Her hands unfolded from her chest and flew loosely around her sides. She floated deeper and deeper until the darkness of the water claimed her, carrying her from sight.

And as Aeris disappeared into the water, the memory of Cait's past prediction echoed in Cloud's mind.

"What you seek will be yours, but you will lose something dear."

"Everyone, listen to me," said Cloud suddenly.

Each person in the room turned to look at Cloud. They were back at the house in which they had slept, returning there after Aeris had been buried in the waters of the pool. They had stood in the dark silence for a while, thinking of Aeris, until Cloud had spoken and caught their attention.

Cloud turned to face those around him. "I'm Cloud, ex-SOLDIER, born in Nibelheim. I came to settle up with Sephiroth."

"…Hmm?" said Red XIII. His wound had almost completely closed up after Tifa had applied more potions to his chest—a way to divert her mind from the loss of Aeris.

In eyes holding only an unadorned spirit

There are great, unseen wings

"I came here by my own free will… Or so I thought," he added bitterly, looking at the ground, Jenova's words echoing in his head. "However… To tell the truth, I'm afraid of myself." He turned away from his friends and looked up at the ceiling. "…There is a part of me that I don't understand. That part of me made me give the Black Materia to Sephiroth. If you hadn't stopped me, Aeris might have been…"

Cloud stopped short and bit his lip as he realised what he had just been about to say. He took a breath before continuing. "…There's something inside of me. A person who is not really me." He turned back to them. "That's why I should quit this journey. Before I do something terrible."

"But I am going, he said firmly before anyone could interrupt. He clenched his fist tightly and shook his head. "He destroyed my hometown five years ago, killed Aeris, and is now trying to destroy the Planet. I'll never forgive… Sephiroth." He half-choked on the name. "I… I must go on… I have a favour to ask all of you." Looking around at the others, he asked, "Will you all come with me? To save me from doing something terrible?"

I open my arms while singing

To embrace the perpetuity of time

To be tied to life

"…I dunno, man…" Barret said hesitantly, folding his arms. Aeris's death had caused him to rethink his position about continuing this journey himself. It seemed to be a completely different game now that one of their group had been killed. Someone they had fought alongside of, ate with, and laughed with. He had seen Cloud nearly strike her and pull back at the last second, and that scared him. He wasn't so sure he could stop Cloud if he did something like that again.

Cid stepped forward and gave Cloud a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Well, we'll face it when it happens," the pilot assured him.

Looking around, Cloud saw the others gradually nod their approval. Although he did not say it, he was grateful they had decided to come with him. The way his self-confidence was feeling right now, he wasn't sure he could make it by himself.

"I don't know how Aeris tried to save the Planet from Meteor," he said. "And I guess now, we'll never know. But! We still have a chance. We must get that Black Materia back before Sephiroth uses it. Let's go."

The others all nodded and gathered around him, those who were sat on the floor like Yuffie and Red XIII jumping up with renewed energy. Now was not the time to be sad. Whatever Aeris had planned they would never know. But they would make sure her efforts were not in vain and continue the task that she herself had started: to bring an end to Sephiroth's plan.

Straight on this long, continuing road

There is surely something to believe in

The eight companions left the house and stepped out onto the street. It was still dark, but somewhere on the distant horizon the sun began to rise. Just as the shadows fell over the canyon the day before, now the light began to rise, pushing back the shadows on the dawn of a new day.

The clouds had cleared and the path was visible before them. The eight friends came to a stop on the path and looked around.

"Sephiroth…" said Tifa softly, though her voice hardened as she said their adversary's name. "I wonder which way he went?"

Everyone looked around. One by one their gazes turned to Cloud, who stood a little ways down the path, looking to the rising cliffs to the north. Cloud was holding his head in his hands as a painful ringing noise throbbed in his ears. In his mind's eye Sephiroth walked down that very path, sword in hand, toward the cliffs. "…Ugh," he groaned.

"Wait! Get a hold of yourself!" said Yuffie sharply.

Cloud shook his head and opened his eyes. Sephiroth was gone. But the memory was still there. The path had been given to him.

"Hmm… Sephiroth said to me… Head North…… ……Past the Snow Fields……"

End of Part Eight

Part Nine: The Birth of Weapon