Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any ideas associated with the game or the movie. However, I do own the characters that I have come up with, so please do not steal. I don't mind if you use the names of the people I have created, but please don't use their descriptions. Thank you. Now, you have a story to read.
CHAPTER 7- DEJA VU
When he saw her feet touch down outside the Nibelheim Mako Reactor, a shiver of fear and dread traveled up his spine. This scene seemed all too familiar to him. He knew what was going to happen next. He followed her, taking care to stay out of sight, as she boldly walked into the Mako Reactor. She made her way precariously along the catwalk, and was suddenly faced with a large room. There were tanks lining the walls, and each had a small viewing window. At the top of the long flight of stairs was a door, and a single word was engraved above it. He watched her hesitate, as she silently mouthed the word, then made her way up the flight of stairs, where it had all begun so long ago. She reached the door, and tried to open it, but rust had sealed it shut. She drew Tiger Lily from its wine-red sheath and slashed the door open. Her strength seems to grow with each passing moment.He thought to himself. She entered the small chamber, with Sephiroth right on her heels, hiding in the shadows. As she drew closer to the glass tank, he could barely hear a voice speaking to the darkness, thanks to his Mako-enhanced hearing.
"That's right. Come closer, my daughter; come closer and free me from this hell that I've been imprisoned in. Punish the Planet and everybody on it, for all they've done. You can do it. Just come closer."Jenova hissed, as Shakura walked as if in a trance toward the tank. She placed her hands upon the glass, and whispered to the creature.
"I'm here now. No one will ever harm you again. I promise. Together, you and I will take back the planet, for it is ours, and ours alone. We shall succeed." Shakura whispered. Quite suddenly, she clutched her head in pain, and hunched over. "No. NO! Stop! Leave me alone!" she screamed, trying to regain control of her mind. Just as suddenly as it had begun, she straightened back up and placed her hands upon the glass once more. "Just tell me how, and I'll do it. Simply tell me what it is you wish, and I... " she was cut off, though, as a young, male voice penetrated the stagnant air.
"You! Back away from that tank!" she turned around to see a young man with spiky blonde hair standing in the doorway, wielding a huge sword. There was fear in his shining blue eyes, but he seemed determined to try and hide it. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" he demanded.
--
The creature inside of me was furious. It struggled to make me fulfill its wishes, but I struggled back. I couldn't help it, though, as I heard the creature use my mouth to speak.
"Well, we meet again, Cloud. If you think you're going to stop me this time, I believe you're horribly mistaken. I simply cannot be defeated, and one day, I will succeed." the creature stated.
Cloud's eyes grew wide, but then narrowed in anger a second later. "Who are you?" he asked angrily.
"Who am I? I am your worst nightmare. Long ago, I took away everything you cherished; your mother, your home, your dreams, your very sanity. And I will do it once more, and there's nothing you can do to stop me. Your hate alone was not enough to stop me last time, or the time before, and it will never be enough to keep me away. This pathetic Planet is destined to die, and I will be the shining light that finally wipes all life from it. You are quite helpless. And as for your question, I think you know who I am. I am the entity called Jenova." Jenova finished.
Cloud's eyes narrowed in hatred as he listened to the creature speak. I could see the struggle that he fought, as he tried to decide whether or not to strike. After all, the creature was using me to help it; the creature called Jenova. Suddenly, Jenova relinquished control of my mind to me, and I fell upon my knees on the dusty floor. Tiger Lily fell from my cold fingers, and I clutched my head as a wave of dizziness and pain swept through my mind.
I looked up at the blonde-haired man, whose name was apparently Cloud. His grip on his huge sword tightened, and he charged at me. I lifted my hand to try to stop him, but I could tell that it was too late. Just when it seemed that the blade was going to sever my arm, a long, thin blade was swept up between Cloud's own and me. So, Sephiroth followed me. I'll have to properly thank him later, when all of this is over. I thought to myself, feeling quite delirious. Another wave of pain and confusion hit me hard, and soon, I was nearly lying across their crossed blades.
--
As he stepped out of the darkness, and drew Masamune, he could tell that his old enemy had not noticed him yet. But as his long blade made contact with Cloud's, recognition passed over the younger man's face; frightened recognition. Mako-blue eyes peered into Sephiroth's own green eyes, questions forming in the glowing blue orbs.
"Sephiroth?! What are you doing here? You should be dead! What's going on?!", Cloud exclaimed. "You're just a memory, and you keep coming back... Why can't you just go away?" he whispered.
Sephiroth lifted his blade and slid it back into its sheath. Confusion was painted clearly on the other man's face. The older man stepped back slowly, and half-raised his arms in the air, palms upward.
"Didn't I tell you that I would never be a memory?", Sephiroth asked. "Anyway, I'm not your problem any more. Jenova is using this girl, Shakura, to fulfil her wishes. But it's not as simple as it sounds. You can't just kill this girl, because the spirit of Jenova will keep coming back. We must get rid of Jenova, before it is too late." Sephiroth tried to explain. His words fell on deaf ears, though, as Cloud raised his Buster Sword and charged.
"You always were a bad liar!" Cloud yelled as he swung the sword upward in an arch. Sephiroth stood still, and waited to see what would happen. He gasped in pain as the enormous blade made contact with his shoulder. Blood dripped down his leather cloak, staining the black material. He placed his hands on the blade, and tried to pull it out, but it had become lodged in the wall behind him. Usually, he could ignore pain, but this... thiswas unbearable. Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes as he peered into Cloud's Mako enhanced ones. Shock had fallen over the younger man's face as he saw that he had wounded the one-winged angel. "Cloud..." Sephiroth began, pain lacing through his body. "Cloud... look into... my eyes. See... see that I am... telling the truth. Cloud... I've... I've changed. Understand? Please?" The pain was becoming worse with each breath he took. Suddenly, he felt the blade being pulled from his body, and he hit the floor hard, blood streaking down the crack in the wall behind him.
--
He didn't know why he had not killed Sephiroth. He had released him, after everything the older man had done to him. But, looking into his eyes, he realized that Sephiroth had changed. There was something different about him. He had practically begged him to let him go, and to understand him. The light of insanity that had once shone in his eyes was gone. He was definetly a changed man.
Slowly, Cloud bent down and offered his enemy his Mastered Restore materia. Sephiroth allowed himself to be healed, then spoke quickly. "Go to her. Help her to rid herself of the demon within her. Destroy Jenova. Please, help Shakura..." the older man managed to say before his head slumped down on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Sephiroth. I'll help her." just as the words came from his mouth, he felt a sharp pain, and looked down to see a bright red blade protruding from his arm. He whirled around, yanking the sword out of himself as he went, and raised his enormous sword into a ready position. The girl who stood before him looked to be no older than sixteen, but under the influence of Jenova, he had no idea of her capabilities. She swung her sword at him once more, and he dodged it. He fled up the stairs to the large glass tank in the center of the room. Swinging his sword, he brought it down on the glass, but the blade never made it. Soon, he was enveloped in a fight for his life. The girl was fast, and extremely strong; almost stronger than Sephiroth had ever been. She never seemed to tire, even when Cloud's own arms began to become tired. Finally, after an hour of non-stop fighting, she suddenly dropped to her knees and curled up in a ball on the floor. He pulled his sword back just in time, to avoid decapitating her. He dropped down on the floor beside her, and gripped her by the shoulders. As he looked into her eyes, he noticed that they had changed back to their normal dark green color, the pupils no longer slits. She seemed so frightened. She shook in his hands.
"Please...! Please help me!" she sobbed in his arms. I can't control myself much longer. Please, you must..." her sentence was cut short, however, as her eyes flashed. She leapt into the air, two bright white wings gleaming in the near darkness. As she wrapped her wings around herself, he could feel the power radiating throughout the room. Quickly, he picked up his sword, and ran back down the stairs, slinging Sephiroth over his shoulder as he went. The general was light, even though he was over six feet tall. As Cloud ran, he could feel the building shaking apart around him as he went. Just as he reached the doorway, the force of the explosion flung both him and Sephiroth into the dirt.
--
I knew what I had to do. I knew that the end had come. The time had come to rid myself of Jenova forever. But my heroism would come with a price; I would have to sacrifice my own life for this world. That's when I realized it; I wasn't from this world. The place I had came from was far less complex, less dangerous. But I had forsaken that world, and this was my punishment. My punishment for ending my own life. I thought about Dustta. I had been too wrapped up in my own self pity to think about the little sister I had left behind. The sweet girl that had looked up to me. The doctors at the hospital probably could have helped me, but I was too selfish. I had only wanted to end my pain; I had not considered the pain of those around me. Well, now I had a new world to save, and I wasn't going to be selfish this time. I was going to give my life for these people... for all these people, who had lived in fear for so long. I had died once, how hard could it be?
As I wrapped my wings about myself, I watched Cloud flee the room. Jenova tried to invade my thoughts once more, but I fought against her with everything I had. I was feeling so incredibly powerful; I could actually see it in the room. At the last moment, when I felt as if I were going to explode, my wings burst apart, and in a swirl of color and heat, I knew no more.
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I realize that it has been a while since I've written, but I had the sudden urge to keep going today, so here it is! Please leave me a review; I would appreciate it so much! Please let me know how my writing is!