------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: ---------------------------------------------

To the Reader and the Lawyers:

Final Fantasy VII, and all the characters, including Aeris and Sephiroth, are property of Square Enix Co, formerly Squaresoft LLC. Tell me if my disclaimer ain't good enough.

To other Fanfic Writers (This is more important!) Plagiarism Note:

There are a lot of Aeriseph fanfics around here. I've tried my best to stay as original as possible, but it's a bit hard to write this type of story without treading on someone's toes by accident along the line. Please, if you feel that I may have 'borrowed' some of your concepts or ideas by mistake, notify me immediately. Email a "cease and desist" message to me, point out where I have gone wrong, and I will act immediately to remove or modify the offending section(s). Thank you very, very much for your understanding and tolerance.

OK, enough of this @#*%&^ already, on with the story!

--------------------------------------- End of Disclaimer: ---------------------------------------

REFLECTIONS

Upon entering the city, virtually everyone living in the Promised Land had turned out to greet the one – winged angel, all eager to see the last survivor of the Cetra return at long last, the young girl who had saved the Planet from Meteor. She had been but a simple flower merchant from the poorest quarters of Midgar, and she had felt immensely uncomfortable with the fame and attention that had been thrusted upon her. She had asked them all several times to return home, trying to persuade them that she wasn't worthy of such a reception, but they had responded by mobbing her with greater intensity. Many children had come up to her, begging her for autographs and a photograph together. Some of the cheekier boys had sneaked up behind her, stealing her ribbon and snipping away locks of her hair as a keepsake of their beloved heroine. She had received invitations to dates and dinners and promises of undying love from many young men. She didn't have the heart to refuse them, and she had blushed and giggled her way out.

Even here, the cycle of day and night still held, and after dusk, the Promised Land became a magic kingdom. The entire city became one giant living spirit, as complex and as beautiful as a rose, twinkling with whorls of every hue possible, every light bright but none blinding. The skies at night were perpetually clear, and she could see every constellation, every star and every other Planet out in the universe without difficulty, illuminating the world below far better than any streetlamp. And if one looked at the boundless garden below, they would see every flower glowing softly with the reflected light of the heavens, another starscape to rival the wonders high above.

No matter what time of day, she could hear every place she went to bustling with life and warmth, the very air echoing with every sound that was pleasing to the ear and soothing to the soul. When she was still in the mortal world, she could was able to hear the spirit of every Cetra who had ever existed calling out to her, but their voices were faded and indistinct. Now it was as if they were talking to her face to face, and she relished every last detail they had to share with her. From those kind people who were willing to impart their knowledge to her, and with the guidance of her mother and father, she had learned more about her heritage and the lore of her race that she should have been taught when she was still alive, if only her parents had survived long enough to do so. But there was no place for regrets in the Promised Land, and she was glad that she was finally able to understand more about her strangeness and the unusual abilities that had made even her closest friends worried and at times envious of her.

She spent every day tending to the flowers in the garden, patiently and meticulously nurturing all the beautiful and exotic species of flora her parents had grown for her to enjoy. And the plants responded in kind, enjoying her very touch, revealing their closest secrets to her. She made the beds with pleasure, humming a tune as she danced with the broom, her smile spreading from ear to ear every time her mother praised her for making another fine dish for the family. Every night she spent in the study, wide – eyed with interest, listening attentively as her father told her bedtime stories of the Cetra and the Planet.

Aeris did not know how long she had been living in paradise, but all she knew was that this wonderful life would go on forever like this, and her enjoyment would know no end. She was truly happy beyond all belief.

Today, she was sitting alone by a large lake, swirling and bubbling endlessly with Mako energy, its depths infinite and unfathomable. Even in heaven, many of the inhabitants still had ties to the mortal world, and it was here that they could watch from a distance what was happening to those whom they had left behind on the Planet. She dipped her hands into the green waters, and in a moment she could see, on the surface of this water body, everything that was transpiring around her as if she was there in person.

Elmyra was standing in one room of her warm and comfortable house in Kalm. But she was feeling neither warm nor comfortable. The room she was in was bright and airy, and everything here, from the walls to the bedspread was in the light, creamy pink colour her adopted daughter had loved. Hanging on the walls, mounted on the mantelpiece and placed on the bedside table were photographs, portraits and snapshots – all belonging to her former charge, who had perished a long time ago. There was one of her in the playground at Sector 6, waving happily from the top of the old rickety slide, cheerful despite the suffering that went on around her. She saw another one, and this time the girl was with a youth with deep dark hair, sitting contentedly on the flowerbed in the old church. Her gaze arrived finally at the last photo that had ever been taken of her. She was standing behind someone, silhouetted by the fireworks that burst silently in the background, and she was impishly pulling the cheeks of the moody golden – haired man into a forced smile. She had been happy, even to the very end.

She opened the wardrobe, looking at the assortment of clothes within. There was the sleeveless pink dress she was never seen without and the red denim half – jacket with metal cuffs she always wore to keep away the chill of the slums. There were only a few others within, including a red number with spaghetti straps, made of the finest shimmering silk, the one she had worn pretending to be a courtesan. All around the room were empty bottles, jars and vases, in which had once bloomed the only flowers to grace the lower plate of Midgar. They would never be filled now, and now her life would be similarly empty. She had never left Midgar before, and for every day and every moment after she had left the giant city, Elmyra had feared for the girl's safety. And when she saw the blonde man stepping in one night, his tears pattering onto the doorstep, unable even to break the news to her, she knew that she would never return home.

"Aunt Elmyra… will the flower lady ever come back?"

She turned, looking at the child she was taking care of now. If not for the fact that she was responsible for Barret's little daughter, she would have taken her life already. She wanted so much to tell Marlene the truth, that her beloved friend was already dead, but how could she break her little heart just like that…

"Don't worry, she'll come home one day. You'll just have to wait for a little while longer, that's all…"

Now she was content only to wait for the day when she would see her dear girl again, once this life full of woe was over…

Two salty tears fell into the lake. The drops did not join with the mysterious waters, but floated on the surface, staying round and transparent, like unbreakable bubbles of air. But soon they sank, carrying with them the weight of the feelings that had given rise to them, and still they did not mix with the green pool, going to the depths as two immiscible drops of pure water.

Cloud and Tifa were walking together, striding confidently down the path they had been destined to take. The young man, never caring much about fashion or tasteful clothing, appeared before her now like the proverbial prince from all the romance books she had ever read. He looked resplendent in a deep blue double – breasted jacket and well – starched pants, and his unruly sandy spikes for once were slick, shiny and well – styled. The woman at his side was a vision of immaculate radiance. Her long brownish – black hair was curled in a wonderful pattern of ringlets, flowing gracefully down her back in a lovely river of life. Her gown was a purest pearly white, almost glowing in the morning light that filtered down from every alcove. Unmitigated, unadulterated euphoria and bliss was written on their faces, and they looked as if they had, like her, just stepped into the Promised Land as well.

They turned, each looking the other straight in the eye, and recited the words of power that joined them in heaven's name. There was a flash of light as they were now irrevocably coupled together, and now a dazzling band of pure gold and diamond rested on their fingers. For one long moment they continued their unbroken gaze, and their eyes began to kindle with quiet fire as their passions, long restrained, long suppressed, came to the fore. At last they could bear it no longer, and they ran to each other, their lips meeting, never to let go forever…

A strange new feeling came over her. Why was it that Tifa was lucky enough to have Cloud as her husband, and not her! Cloud had loved her, and she had wanted to return to him once Holy had been summoned. She would have teased and coaxed the brooding mercenary into telling more about himself, for she had realised long ago that a sensitive young man was only waiting to break out from the walls he had created around himself, waiting only for that special someone to see through him. She knew she had been the one for him – even Cait Sith the hopeless fortuneteller had noticed the obvious. But because of one cruel twist of fate, she'd been denied her lover, and with her unfortunate demise, her handsome and gallant Sir Alfred had been handed over to her best friend and worst rival on a silver platter, without a fight! If she could have done so, she would have run up to the fore and demand that the wedding be stopped immediately! But she could do nothing now except watch the two of them enjoy life together, while she was stuck here alone, without a bodyguard or a boyfriend to love her! It was so unbearable, so unfair!

And for the first time ever, the selfless and generous Aeris knew what it was like to be jealous and envious of someone.

Two tears fell again into the pond, but this time they were shed with bitterness. The lake steamed as those unyielding drops of living moisture unwillingly sank below, hard done by the fates.

She shook her head, unable to believe what she was experiencing now. Cloud had told her once that he had been "jealous and envious" of Zack for being able to get attached to someone like her, and she had merely laughed it off, thinking that he was merely saying that to milk some sympathy from her. But now she understood the depth of meaning beneath his words. Cloud had never been successful in his love life, and no doubt he must have, deep down inside, harboured some secret resentment for his best friend, even as she felt angry and sad with Tifa for taking her Cloud away…

Pull yourself together, Aeris! What's happening to me? I should be happy for the two of them! They were meant to be together, even before I came! And Tifa… she welcomed me with open arms, even though I was the interloper, and she never got angry with me over Cloud! I don't deserve him after all…

But then… has my life become a loveless play after all, ending with a bloody valentine and memories of what could have come true?

She sat there for a long time, trying to come to terms with herself. She knew that she was being impractical and unrealistic. Her life in the mortal world was long over, and there was no sense grieving over it. She had to move on and enjoy the eternal life she had been blessed with. Whenever things turned out wrong for her, she had always taken them in stride and with a smile, knowing that she'd be happy again once she turned the corner to face a new page in her life. But still, despite her best efforts, one tiny corner of her heart remained disconsolate and depressed. It seemed that even in the Promised Land, she was not free of her own emotions, and she would have to handle them with care.

Aeris was roused from her reverie by the footsteps of another person who was slowly walking up to the lake. She stood up, and quickly recognised the woman who was coming towards her. In the Promised Land, everyone she had seen had appeared contented and pleased. There had been absolutely no one whose face ever bore the slightest hint of sadness… except this demure, mousy – looking lady. Her complexion was fair and without blemishes, her shoulder – length black hair was tied behind in a severe ponytail and a large round pair of glasses sat firmly on her nose. But there was no mistaking the unshed tears that were always in those small brown eyes, and her chin shook apprehensively whenever someone looked at her. She was always staring at the ground, wandering around aimlessly. She never spoke to anyone at all, and she was known to sit at the lake every day, sighing to herself as if she was mourning for someone. Aeris was tempted to ask what was bothering her, but she looked so morose that any attempt to lure her into conversation would fail from the start.

The lady sat down at another corner of the pool, and the glowing waters began to form the images that she wanted so much to see, the sights that made her so sad. The flower girl turned and left immediately, not wanting to intrude upon her privacy.

*****

The lady bit her lip, steeling herself as she looked into the pool as she had done every day, looking into the lives of the two people who had ever mattered in her life. Even now she could not live with the fact that she could do nothing to help them make right the nightmares their lives had become. It was even worse because they had experienced so much misfortune, so much sadness not through their own faults… but because she had sinned.

One had been the mysterious and sorrowful man who had been forced to endure a lifetime of pain and regret due to her foolish actions. On one hand, he had tried to fulfill his duty as her protector to keep her safe so that the experiment would be completed. On the other hand, he had loved her, and he had wanted to spirit her away, keep her safe from the clutches of the monster that was trying to rape her, using her body as a living incubator for the perfect specimen.

In the end, he had wanted to save her, but she had hesitated, and she had persuaded him to stay his hand, not wanting to break faith with the Professor she had feared with her life. And because of that the two of them had lingered in the darkness until it was too late, when the deed was done. The brave Turk, unable to see her suffer any more, had stepped into the Professor's lab, demanding answers… and demanding that he pay for what he had done to her. The mad scientist had captured him on that day, and Hojo had made the poor man undergo unspeakable torments daily as yet another test subject, perverting his body, turning him into another freakish experiment. And then he had been imprisoned for thirty years, forced every day to lament his indecision, his fatal flaw that had kept him on the sidelines watching her being tortured. He had been forced every day to mourn his lost love, forced every minute to believe that he was a failure, and would stay forever one.

But she had been so happy, and so proud of him, when she met him at the cave under the waterfall, when she found out that he had agreed to fight alongside Avalanche, to take his chances and find a way to redeem himself by devoting his life to protecting his newfound companions, making sure that they would never suffer the same fate he had. He had grieved for thirty years, and now he had finally mustered the courage and the strength of will to overcome his sorrows and weaknesses… to go on living.

Vincent Valentine had found himself at last, and he had been saved. Her lover was fighting every minute now, keeping his inner demons, his regrets and all his negative emotions at bay, fighting to keep her memory pristine and sacrosanct.

Despite all the Mako infusions and the Jenova cells that had kept her strong, she had passed away not long after she had seen him. She had prayed many, many times for death, and the Planet had pitied her at long last, and had decided to order her release from this life. She had awakened in heaven. Even though she had not been worthy of mercy, her sins had been forgiven. This should have pleased her beyond all imagining, but why was she still so sad, still in tears then?

There had been only one other person she had cared for… but now, there was no hope for him, none at all, and while she, his mother, was in paradise, he was doomed to suffer forever a fate worse than death…

That innocent child of hers, born from the love that she believed existed between herself and Hojo… but never had she thought that the Professor would betray her, telling her sweetly that her son would become his most important experiment, the magnum opus that would make him more famous than even Dr. Gast! And before she could open her mouth in protest, he had plunged the first needle into her unprotected womb, delivering the first dose of Jenova to corrupt his own son! From then on, she had meekly succumbed to the Professor's will, allowing more and more of the poison to torment her unborn child, turning him into a monster! She should have gone with Vincent, who had truly loved her, and run away before the Professor could destroy her son! Her timid, cowardly nature had made her commit this sin of omission.

Sephiroth had grown up believing the lies told by Hojo. That Jenova, that alien, was the one who had given him life. He had been deprived of one of the most fundamental prerequisites to keep any man happy and sane – a mother's love. This was a vacuum he could not fill, and slowly, but surely, his resentment and anger with life grew. He became aloof, reticent and totally committed to the mission before him, for in combat he could forget the lack of care and love in his life. He could vent his rage on the enemies before him, for he knew that they had been loved and they had known what he had never had. Shinra had never sought to make him happy, but they had isolated him further, deriding and degrading him until he became their perfect soldier. She had known about all these. The Jenova cells had given her his dreams. And she had done nothing but stayed in that loathsome cave and cried over the way her beloved son was spiraling to his destruction.

All hell had broken loose when he had found the manifestation of Jenova in the Nibel reactor, and there the horrid creature had taken advantage of his vulnerable and impressionable soul. She had lured him with empty promises, telling him to follow her wishes as his mother. He had wanted only to find someone to attach himself to, and he had willingly accepted her will. It was his greatest misfortune to have been manipulated by that monster. And from then on, he had been turned into a cold – blooded killer who had slain countless innocents for the glory of his 'mother' and the Cetra of whom he thought he had been one.

She had wept when she saw him continue to ruin lives from the Northern Crater where he had hidden himself. He had used those black – cloaked men who had been luckless enough to have been injected with Jenova cells, taking their hearts and feelings away, turning them into soulless puppets, forcing them to do unspeakable acts of cruelty against their most honoured beliefs, and he had feasted heartily upon their life energies when they could do his bidding no more. The lowest point in his life came when he had ordered the most complete clone of himself, the only one of them that resembled him to the last gene, to put to death the pure hearted maiden who had put aside everything to aid the Planet in its most dire hour of need. And even after that he had compounded sin upon sin by summoning Meteor to bring destruction upon the Planet, killing those whom he falsely believed were harming his 'mother'. He had remained unrepentant to the bitter end, and now he would suffer forever, because she had stood by all the while, doing nothing to save him…

Yes, she had been forgiven. But she could never forgive herself. She wanted only, above everything in the Promised Land, to save her son… and now even that was impossible… Oh, if only if it could be done! If only she could restore Sephiroth to the good man that he was supposed to have been from the start, she could surely rest in peace!

The waters of the pool began to stir, but not because she had used its powers. A series of multicoloured visions began to parade before her eyes, and for hours she stood transfixed, unable to move as she took in the full import of what she had been shown. And when the green lake finally fell silent, the tears in her eyes had dried, replaced by a faint glow. The light that had been kindled in her soul was dim, but nonetheless it was a light. Again, the Planet had heard her desperate pleas, coming to her rescue, giving her a message. She was now filled with hope.

A/N: Here's my attempt to prevent Aeris from becoming the dreaded "Mary Sue" character. As you can see, she's not completely pure after all… she has her own problems too. Even in heaven, life may not be perfect…

I've been wondering myself whether Aeris knew that she'd die in the Forgotten Capital… especially since she was able to save the Planet even after her death. Did she know, then, that she was fated to die, so that she would be able to use the Lifestream? But then, if this were true, why did she promise Cloud that she'd come back, unless she meant that she'd be with him in spirit (like Obi - Wan Kanobi). In this story, I just assume that Aeris didn't know she would be killed.

Hmm… I apologise if Lucrecia's recollections are too "generic". What I've written must have appeared in millions of Aeriseph fics=)

It's been a long while since I played the game, so I hope that my physical description of Lucrecia is accurate. Tell me if I'm wrong, and I'll modify the chapter to reflect the changes. Thanks!

Praise for the Reviewers:

To Starling94: Temper, temper… I can't write with an eight foot blade sticking out from my stomach, can I… =) (how long is Sephiroth's sword anyway?)

Nice to see that you like it too! Aeris is my fave character, Sephiroth is my most hated villain. They say that a writer has succeeded in his character portrayal (of a villain, for example) when you really, really hate him. I can never forgive Sephy for killing Aeris, so, I will force him to make up to her in this story! MWAHAHAHAHA!

To Crow T R0bot : Thanks for the review! Let me know how you feel about it! Hope I can keep it up!