Chapter 19: A Way Home
It had been a whole week since the group travelled to Nibelheim to put a stop to their foe's plans. The Shinra Mansion and the Mount Nibel reactor were destroyed albeit accidentally on Nightshade's part. Rufus had called a meeting the very next day congratulating the group for their efforts, however he didn't mention the destruction of the mansion and the reactor again much to Nightshade's relief, he didn't want to be reminded again. Rufus also stated that he had received no reports from his agents of any unusual activities thus the group were able to relax. That was a week ago now and Max was sat on the doorstep of the Seventh Heaven, Cloud and Tifa had told Max and Pandora that they were welcome to stay at the Seventh Heaven for as long as they needed. Pandora was walking down the street carrying bags of shopping when she noticed Max sitting on the step with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Something on your mind?" She asked staring intently at him. Max opened his eyes and he stared back at Pandora.
"I was just thinking," Max told her, he moved up slightly so she could sit down, Pandora sat down next to him and placed her shopping at her feet she still hadn't taken her eyes off Max.
"What were you thinking about?" She asked curiously.
"Something Zack said when you were having that conversation with him after we fought Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz in Kalm." Max answered still with that thoughtful expression.
"Zack said a lot of things that time," Pandora reminded him, "Of course you were driving so you probably didn't hear much of it."
"I was dipping in and out of the conversation," Max said as he watched three kids run passed chasing a football. "Anyway, Zack hinted at some miracle that can bring back the dead," Max continued, "about the only intelligent thing he actually said."
"You know Zack, he was probably saying it to wind us up," Pandora said not thinking anymore into it.
"He sounded serious to me," Max responded, "Now that I think about it I did read something about reviving the dead in the library in the palace, I just can't remember what it was."
"What's brought all this on?" Pandora questioned.
"A week ago, I saw Cloud in the church in Midgar," Max explained, "he wished that there was some way he could bring Aerith and Zack back from the dead so he could tell them how sorry he was. Then it got me thinking, what if the book in the library and the miracle that Zack mentioned are the same thing?"
Pandora gave Max a sceptical stare, "Max, I think you're reading too much into this," she said to him not wanting to put him down, "raising the dead is beyond your capabilities."
"I know that," Max said defensively, "but if I can find that book maybe I can find out more about it."
"How?" Pandora asked him, "Our only way home is badly damaged and is currently in Reeve's workshop being fixed."
"Then we'll just have to find another way to get home," Max answered her as he leapt to his feet. "Don't worry, I'll think of something."
Pandora continued to stare at Max, "Have you told everyone else?" She asked him.
Max shook his head, "not yet, I don't want to get their hopes up," Max answered, "I'm not even sure if this will work yet."
Pandora didn't take her eyes off Max, "Max," she chose her words carefully, "I know you mean well but you could be meddling with forces you don't understand."
"I know…" Max was about to reply but the phone that Shelke gave him rang, he reached into his pocket and grabbed the phone he pushed the button and he spoke into the phone. "Hello?"
"Hi Max it's Reeve."
"Reeve?" Max asked the phone, "How did you…"
"Shelke had all of Avalanche's numbers, plus the numbers of all your friends put into the phone," Reeve explained, "my number is also there, also I have all the numbers on my phone, anyway, how've you been my friend?"
"Not bad," Max answered as he started pacing round in a circle, "I was just thinking."
"Try not to think too much," Reeve laughed, "you don't want to overload your brain, anyway, I have something that might be of interest to you."
Max's eyes lit up as he heard Reeve said this, "What is it?" He asked his voice was filled curiosity.
"Come over to WRO and find out," Reeve said wanting to keep up the suspense, "Oh and bring the others along as well they'll find it interesting as well."
Max nodded, "Ok Reeve, see you there." Max hung up on the phone and put it back into his pocket, Pandora was staring at him.
"Who was it?" She asked.
"It was Reeve," Max answered, "he said he's got something of interest that he wanted to show us."
"I'll get Cloud and Tifa," Pandora stated as she got up and ran into the bar to tell her two friends, Max went round the back to the garage to get his bike ready.
Meanwhile back in Midgar, Hojo had just finished the checks on the final reactor when his master approached him. "How are you getting on?" she asked as she stared at Hojo.
Hojo grinned at her, "The eighth reactor will be fully repaired right about…" As Hojo said this the computer bleeped.
"The eighth and final reactor is repaired and fully operational."
"Excellent," Hojo said as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation, "Balthazar, you may hit the final switch to get the reactor online." Balthazar immediately hit the switch in the reactor and all eight reactors came back online and the machinery within them hummed to life.
"Good," the master said as she looked at her handy work, "now we're ready for the next stage of the plan, prepare to channel the Life Stream through the reactor." Numerous buttons and switches were pressed as the cables which connected all the reactors together to the main plate glowed green as portions of the Life Stream flowed through to the reactors and a thick purple substance was released a few moments later. The master smiled at this, finally her plan was coming together all she needed now was Max and she'd be unstoppable but unknown to her was that Aerith had witnessed the whole thing and she alerted Zack immediately.
"Zack, they're stealing the Life Stream!" She told her boyfriend.
"It goes into the reactors green and comes out again purple," he observed as he watched more and more of the Life Stream disappear into the reactors and come out again a deep purple colour.
"We have to warn Max!" Aerith yelled urgently, "come on!" Aerith disappeared as she made her way to Max's head to warn him.
"Right behind ya," Zack said as he followed Aerith.
An hour and a half later and everyone was gathered in Reeve's workshop.
"What's this all about?" Drogo asked as everyone was staring at Reeve.
"Yeah Reeve," Cid cut in, "Why did you have to call us at such short notice? I was just waxing the blood floor of the Sierra again because someone," he glared at Yuffie as he said this, "kept throwing up on it."
Yuffie glared back at Cid, "Hey!" She yelled at the pilot, "I resent that!"
"Will you two just shut up so we can hear what Reeve has to say?!" Cloud barked at Yuffie and Cid, they both shut up immediately, Cloud turned back to Reeve, "go ahead Reeve."
"Thank you," Reeve said gratefully, "Now I've got some good news and I've got some bad news," Reeve said, "The good news is, I've fixed some of the teleportation devices that Max gave me."
"Thanks Reeve," Max replied as he gave Reeve a thumbs up sign, "I knew you wouldn't let us down."
"However I haven't fixed them all yet," Reeve continued a little more gravely, "I still need more time."
"So what does this mean?" Lance asked Reeve, "that only some of us could get home?" There was general muttering among Max's friends and Reeve didn't even get a chance to answer, until Max held his hand out to silence them.
"No one's going anywhere just yet!" He told the group firmly, "we ended up here together and we're gonna go home together but we still have a lot of work to do here. Reeve can you pass me one of the devices please?" Max asked politely, Reeve gave Max one of the teleportation devices.
"What are you going to do Max?" Tifa asked him.
Max tapped the side of his nose slyly, "All will be revealed," he said vaguely, before anyone else could ask anymore questions Max wrapped the device round his wrist and pushed a few buttons to set the co ordinates, he then disappeared from sight and a few seconds later he reappeared in the palace workshop again on the Kitsune world. "It worked!" Max exclaimed, "now all I need to do is get to the library and find that book." Max ran out of the workshop and up the stairs to the main palace, he turned to his left and walked down the corridor and up four more flights of stairs before he entered the palace library. The library was a large, cavernous room each shelf was full to the brim with books, Max himself had read almost every single book in this library, all he had to do was find the right one. Max began searching every shelf and every nook and cranny in the library, he had been searching for two whole hours but there was still no sign of the book he was looking for. Max stood in front of a half empty book shelf.
"Ok," he whispered to himself, "I've been searching for two whole hours and still…no…sign…of that…damn…book…" Max banged his head on the shelf repeatedly as he said each word until a heavy book feel off the shelf and hit Max on the head before it landed with a thud on the floor. "Ouch!" Max cried out in pain as he rubbed his head, he looked down at the book. It was an old book, almost over 400 years old and it was bound together by leather. Back then the book would've looked grand and beautiful but now it was battered and the title of the book had been worn away. Max picked up the book and turned it over, he quickly read the page and grinned. "This is it," he said to himself, "I've found it, now to take it back to the others." Max pushed some more buttons on his device and he disappeared, a few seconds later he reappeared in Reeve's workshop holding the book.
"You took your time," Drogo muttered sarcastically, Max glared at him.
"Sorry," Max apologised to the group, "I didn't think it would take so long, I was searching for something." He held out the book so that the whole group could see it.
"What's with the book?" Barret asked Max, Max grinned at the group, then he turned to face Cloud.
"This could be the answer to your prayers," he told Cloud, Cloud stared blankly at Max then he remembered what Max was talking about.
"You really think you can do it?" Cloud asked his expression turned hopeful.
Max nodded, "yeah, if we follow the instructions carefully it just might work," Max said reassuringly.
"What might work?" Tifa asked Max, Max grinned at her.
"Tifa, how would like to see a couple of old friends again?" He asked curiously.
"I'd really like that," Tifa answered, "why do you ask?"
"I may have a way to bring Zack and Aerith back to life," Max answered, just as he said this he heard voices in his head.
"Speak of the devils," Dark Max muttered rolling his eyes, "here they come."
"Max," Aerith called out Max's name, "you have to help us, something's happened!" She told Max, her voice was filled with urgency.
"What happened?" Max asked the Cetra.
"The Life Stream is disappearing," Aerith answered him, "I don't know how to explain it."
"I do," Zack cut in.
"What's going on Zack?" Max turned his attention to the ex SOLDIER.
"The Life Stream is being sucked into the reactors a tiny bit at a time," Zack took over from Aerith. "It enters the reactors pure and green like it should be and a few moments later it comes out again purple."
"Purple?" Max asked looking confused.
"I think the Life Stream is being corrupted," Aerith said, "It's not the first time it's happened."
"You can purify it again, right?" Max asked Aerith.
"Last time, the Life Stream was corrupted all at once," Aerith answered, "So it was easier to purify it, but this time it's being corrupted a bit at time. Even if I do purify the Life Stream more and more of it will get corrupted."
"You said that the Life Stream was being channelled through some reactors?" Max questioned, "where?"
"In Midgar," Zack and Aerith answered.
"Midgar," Max mused, "I thought that that place was practically in ruins and that the reactors were destroyed."
"The reactors were destroyed," Aerith said, "someone's been repairing them."
"Hojo," Zack added, "I wouldn't put it passed him to get the reactors up and running again."
"Don't worry," Max reassured them, "we'll do something about it."
"Hey Max?" Zack asked Max, "Is it ok if we stay in your head for a while?"
"Oh joy," Dark Max mumbled, "I get to share Max's head with an idiot and a know it all Cetra."
"Shut up Dark!" Max yelled at his dark side, "or you'll go back in The Cage!"
"Sure there's plenty of room for the three of us," Dark Max said quickly not wanting to put in The Cage again.
"Good," Max replied satisfied, "Don't worry guys," Max reassured Aerith and Zack, "we'll put a stop to this."
"Thanks Max," Aerith and Zack said in unison and they stopped talking to him.
"Max is there something wrong?" Max opened his eyes and he saw Cloud staring at him a look of concern on his face.
"I'm fine," Max replied, he placed the book on to the table and he began to read it. He flicked through the book until he found the right page, "Aaahhh, here it is," Max stated and he began to read the page. "Hmmm, this is a highly complicated spell."
"What's it say?" Pandora asked him.
"It says, to revive your fallen heroes you need the following items," Max answered and he read the list of items needed. "Hmmm…Desert Rose…I've never even heard of that."
"We have," Tifa replied, "although a desert rose is very hard to come by, but if we look hard enough we may be able to find one.
"Earth Harp and Guide Book," Max continued to read the list. "Again, they're new to me."
"Don't worry," Tifa reassured Max, "we'll find them for you."
"The old man in Kalm," Cloud reminded Tifa, "he asked for those three items remember?"
Tifa nodded, "yeah," she replied.
"Maybe he still has the ones we gave him," Cloud explained, "if we ask him to lend them to us I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
"Ok," Max agreed, "so that's three items out of the way already, ok the next item is…White Materia…"
"Leave that to us," Cloud said to Max.
"Ok, and the next four items we need are," Max read the last four items on the list. "Nymphs blood, no problem I know where to get that. Phoenix feather, again easy to get, a silver dragon scale. That's gonna be a pain in the ass, and finally a hair from a Kitsune's tail, hmmm…" Max almost cried out in pain as he felt something pull on one of his tails, he looked behind him and saw Drogo standing there with a triumphant grin on his face hold one of Max's tail hairs.
"Well that's one item out of the way," Drogo remarked as Max glared at him.
"Yeah, you could've found a less painful way of doing it," Max complained as he rubbed his tail.
"Oh quit your whining," Drogo said mockingly, "we got one of the items needed didn't we, we just need to get the other seven."
"Right," Max agreed, "Cloud Tifa, you take care of the Earth Harp, Desert Rose, Guide Book and the White Materia, I'll get the rest."
Cloud and Tifa walked out of Reeve's workshop and Max used his device to warp back to the Kitsune world. Two hours later and all three of them returned, "Ok," Cloud informed the group, "we've got the Desert Rose, the Guide Book, the Earth Harp and the White Materia."
"And I've got the Nymph's blood, the Phoenix feather, the Dragon scale and…" Max looks back painfully at his middle tail as he says this. "A hair from one of my tails…" Everyone laughed at Max when he said this.
"So what now?" Angel asked as she stared at Max.
"We need to find a suitable place to carry out the spell," Max answered as he looked around at everyone for suggestions.
"How about Cosmo Canyon?" Red suggested, "you could cast the spell next to the Cosmo Candle."
"That's a great idea," Tifa agreed, "Thanks Red."
Red nodded, "Anytime."
Everyone filed out of the workshop but Max stayed behind for moment to talk to Reeve. "Thanks Reeve," Max said gratefully.
Reeve smiled at the Kitsune, "I'm just glad I could help," Reeve replied modestly, "I'll get to work at fixing the rest of these device, you should catch up with the others."
Max nodded, "Yeah, you're right, thanks again Reeve," Max thanked Reeve again and he ran out of the workshop and caught up with the others. An hour later and the Sierra landed outside Cosmo Canyon. Red XIII ran up the steps to the canyon and he was already sat at the candle when the others had caught up with him.
"Damn beast!" Cid cursed loudly which earned him another evil glare off Angel, but she didn't say anything because she knew that Cid would just ignore her. "Slow down will ya? Some of us aren't as young or energetic as we used to be!"
"Speak for yourself!" Nightshade yelled at Cid, "you don't have to drag seven tails behind you like a dead weight!" Nightshade pointed to his seven tails as he said this.
"Can we just get on with this?" Max asked firmly and Nightshade and Cid immediately shut up. Max continued to read the book. "It says here that the spell is so strong that it requires four spell casters."
"I'll help," Pandora volunteered and she walked up to Max.
"We'll help too," Sunny and Angel said in unison as they joined Max and Pandora next to the candle, Cloud handed Max the items and he spread them out evenly.
Then he, Pandora, Angel and Sunny sat down round the flame and held hands they closed their eyes and concentrated. The four spell casters glowed brightly as the eight items levitated in mid air and began to spin round the spell casters going faster and faster. Eventually the White Materia floated to the middle hovering above the spell casters and the candle as the other seven items whizzed round it creating a large circle. The White Materia emitted a bright green glow and the items around it also glowed. Everyone else watching them had to shield their eyes because the glow was so bright. Max, Pandora, Angel and Sunny focused even harder as they could feel the magical properties of the items pulsing through them, almost as if they became one with the items. They saw themselves surrounded by green and spirits floating round them, countless spirits and still the four spell casters concentrated as if they were searching, searching for the souls they were going to revive and then they found them, two spirits that were glowing green to match the aura of the items around them. The spell casters, and the people watching them were surrounded by a bright, white glare.
"Is it over?" Was the question on everyone's minds. Max, Pandora, Sunny, Angel and everyone else slowly opened their eyes to see that the white and green glows had completely disappeared and the items had stopped levitating and slowly started to descend to the ground.
"Did it work?" Sunny asked as she, Max, Pandora and Angel slowly released their hands and stood up.
"Looks like we're just in time for the party," a male voice suddenly spoke behind them. Everyone turned round to see two people stood there. One of them was a young woman wearing a pink dress, she had bright green eyes and long brown hair that was tied into a ponytail and plaited, she smiled warmly at the group. The other was a young man with dark blue eyes that glowed vividly, they were Mako eyes. He had wild spiky hair that was as black as night and he wore a dark blue SOLDIER uniform, he had a playful grin on his face.
"Aerith…Zack…" Cloud uttered as he stared from both Aerith and Zack.
"It's good to see you again Cloud," Aerith spoke in her usual soft voice, "And the rest of you too."
Zack slowly stretched himself as he began to get used to his body again, "it feels good to be alive again after all these years," he said happily, he then noticed Max again for the first time, "but I am gonna miss talking in your head."
Max laughed, "I'm just glad that you and Dark won't be having anymore mental battles in my head."
Zack's grin grew wider, "It was friendly banter," he said playfully.
"It sounded like it too," Max muttered sarcastically.
"Ha ha," Zack laughed just as sarcastically, "I've forgotten how to laugh."
Cloud also laughed, he hadn't forgotten his friend's sense of humour, nor had he forgotten the sacrifice Zack made to protect him. "It's good to see you again too Zack," Cloud said glad to finally see his friend again.
Zack grinned at Cloud, "yeah, it's good to see you too Cloud," Zack said back, "come here big lug!" Zack quickly grabbed Cloud round the neck with one hand and he gave Cloud a knuggie. Cloud struggled wildly against Zack's strong grip, he hated it when Zack gave him knuggies, but it was just the SOLDIER's way of being friendly.
"Zack…" Cloud started choking, "…can't…breathe…"
Zack realised this and he quickly released Cloud, "Oh sorry buddy," Zack apologised to Cloud, "I forgot you didn't like knuggies, I guess I just got caught up in the moment there." Zack looked up as he realised that everyone was staring at him, Red walked up to Zack and looked up intently at him.
"So you're Zack," he said musingly, Zack nodded, "Cloud's told us a lot about you."
"Has he?" Zack asked as he gave Cloud a fleeting glance, "nothing embarrassing I hope."
Cloud gave Zack a sheepish grin but Red spoke up, "only that you looked out for him a lot and that you died to save him."
"Yeah," Zack agreed, "I also heard that he actually thought he was me."
"Err…" Cloud began nervously knowing all too well how strong Zack was, "about that you see…I wasn't exactly thinking straight at the time and…"
Zack burst out laughing, "will you just relax Strife, man you're so up tight sometimes anyone would think that I'm like this superior being or something."
Cloud stared at Zack, "You mean you're not mad?"
Zack shook his head, "nah," he answered, "I just found it hilarious every time you acted like me."
"It's true," Aerith added, "he couldn't stop laughing at one point."
"Hey, I had to get my entertainment from somewhere," Zack defended himself. "Besides, he became a mercenary didn't he?"
Cloud nodded, "yeah, but it wasn't my dream though."
"My dream, your dream," Zack answered, "it doesn't matter as long as it was fulfilled."
Cloud smiled, "I guess you're right."
Tifa meanwhile was staring at Aerith, unsure of what to say, "hi Aerith…" she replied nervously.
"It's good to see you again Tifa," the Cetra said.
Tifa wasn't sure of what to make of this, although she was secretly jealous of Aerith at one point because she always knew exactly what to say to Cloud. But she knew that there was no need to be jealous of Aerith now that Aerith had Zack, and Tifa had Cloud, the way it was meant to be. Tifa stared at Aerith for a few moments and then the two women hugged. "Oh Aerith…" Tifa sobbed into the other woman's arms, "I missed you so much, we all did…"
"I know you did Tifa," Aerith said as she comforted Tifa. Eventually the two women broke apart and smiled at each other. Everyone spent the next half hour hugging Aerith and making acquaintances with Zack, eventually Max had had enough.
"Ehem!" He cleared his throat loudly and everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him.
Aerith and Zack smiled at Max, "Thanks Max," they said in unison.
Max nodded, "anytime," he replied.
"As much as I love a reunion," Cid spoke up, "I think it's time we start heading back and plan our next course of action, besides, I'd like to show Aerith and Zack my pride and joy." Aerith and Zack stared at Cid for a minute and then Cid burst out laughing. "I meant my airship," he added quickly still laughing at the expressions on Zack and Aerith's faces. "As much as I love Shera, I'm not ready for fatherhood yet."
Everyone left Cosmo Canyon in light spirits as they were joined by their two new allies, ten minutes later and they were on the Sierra.
"Wow!" Zack exclaimed as he and Aerith looked round the Sierra, "this airship is cool!"
"It's even more advanced than the Highwind!" Aerith added, she too was unable to contain her excitement.
"Yeah," Cid agreed proudly, "unfortunately the Highwind had to go into retirement, but now we have this baby and…" Pauses when he hears the sound of cogs being tampered with. "Damn it!" Cid yelled, "I thought I told Max to leave that damn engine room alone!" Cid pressed a button on the intercom and yelled through it. "Max! Get out of that engine room now!" Everyone on the airship laughed, as Max darted out of the engine room and ran into his and Pandora's room. Cid turned to Aerith and Zack, "Sorry about that, but if I've told that bloody Kitsune once I've told him enough times. Anyway, I'll have to sort out a room for you two, that is if you don't mind sharing."
Aerith smiled at Cid, "We don't mind."
Cid smiled back, "good," he replied happily, "well we better get back to the ruddy WRO no doubt Rufus will probably have something worth mentioning for once."
Zack stared at Cid, "Rufus…" He asked hardly daring to believe what he was hearing, "Rufus Shinra…"
Cid nodded, "yeah, you heard me correctly."
Zack gritted his teeth as he heard that name, "how can you work for that man after everything he's done!?" Zack asked still glaring angrily at Cid.
"Look Zack, as much as I hate to admit it myself, Rufus is a changed man."
"Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it," Zack muttered under his breath.
"Zack I know this must be hard for you," Aerith said as she placed her hand on Zack's shoulder, "but please try to get along with Rufus ok."
Aerith pouted at Zack, he initially tried to turn away but he knew that he couldn't resist that look, "alright," he gave in as Aerith smiled, "but I'm not promising anything," he pouted back at Aerith, "and I invented that look, I can't believe you used it against me."
Aerith gave Zack a little dig in the stomach before she left the bridge, "you coming?!" She called after him, Zack smiled and he ran out of the room after her. Cid sighed but he couldn't help but smile as he piloted the airship back to WRO.
Meanwhile Max was in his and Pandora's room lying spread eagled on the bed staring at the ceiling. He was still greatly disturbed at what he heard, the Life Stream was being corrupted, Max knew all too well what it meant and he knew that it couldn't have been good.
"What's happening?" Max asked himself. "What does it all mean? Who's doing this?" Max didn't get an answer right a way but he already knew what the answer was going to be.
"That is something you'll have to discover yourself," Aurora spoke in Max's mind.
"Somehow I knew you were gonna say that mum," Max replied.
"Still you can't take Aerith and Zack's warning lightly, but now that they're alive again I have a feeling that they can help you, Aerith has her Cetra powers. Zack has his SOLDIER training, his skills with a sword and his physical strength. Plus other powers he'll have acquired in the Life Stream."
"I know," Max agreed, "At this moment in time, we need all the help we can get."
"But for now, rest my son," Aurora said before her voice disappeared from his head. Max sighed, he was aware of the voices of the planet screaming in pain and he was sure that Aerith was as well. But there was something else as well, something else that had been haunting him for a while. He didn't even know who was behind all of this, he had a rough idea of what these people were planning but not much, however he also got the feeling that these plans involved him in some way, how they involved him he wasn't sure, but he knew that whatever it was it wasn't going to be to his benefit. Max scratched his head as he had a puzzled expression on his face.
"Wherever you are," He said to himself, "and whoever you are, I will find you, and I will put a stop to your plans. I won't let you take this planet."
Chapter 19 is complete, phew this is turning out to be a long story. The pieces should hopefully start to fall into place, a slowly corrupting Life Stream and a resurrection. Yes I had a resurrection in my story, I know it's probably breaking some rules but I really don't care. After all there are plenty of Final Fantasy VII fanfics out there which have Aerith or another character being brought back to life in someway shape or form. My purposes for bringing Zack and Aerith back to life…I haven't decided yet, but I do have a purpose for them even if you can't see it. Chapter 20 will be coming soon and please feel free to comment or post a review as long as it's constructive criticism. I don't want people bad mouthing my story and not giving a good reason for it, enjoy.