Chapter 5: "Last Stop"

It was a struggle to climb down the ladder in the service duct because of Ifalna's weakened state. Aeris tried to heal her, but she wouldn't allow it. "You need to save your strength." She told her sternly and continued on. They started hearing gunshots echoing in the duct and people yelling unintelligible commands. The sounds of dying moans surrounded them and they were not sure if it was voices or souls that screamed that final plea for life. They quickened their pace and when they reached the first floor, Ifalna was starting to feel a sharp pain in her abdomen and it was getting harder for her to breathe.

Seeing that her mother had slowed, Aeris crawled ahead and looked through the grate to check if the coast was clear. When she saw that it was, she braced herself against the metal wall and kicked with all the force her little legs could muster until the bolts came loose and the grate swung open. She peaked out again and jumped out first so she could help Ifalna. She was just barely able to hold on to her as she practically fell out of the duct, then she helped her to stand and walk towards the opening to the drain line. The hatch was heavy, far too heavy for Aeris to open alone. She looked around and spied a lever laying on the ground next to the grate they just came out of. Asalie had prepared well for their escape. She ran over and picked up the end of the lever and dragged it over to the drain as fast as she could. Ifalna helped set the lever in the hatch and together they were able to lift it up and to the side so they could get in.

Aeris held Ifalna's hand to steady her as she sunk down into the dark hole. She was preparing to go next and then she felt a dark, heavy shadow pass through her, that shadow that taunted her when death was taking hold of someone and turned back to look at the large, imposing building. "Asalie..." She whispered and took a step forward.

"Aeris!" Her mother called to her. "Please hurry!" Aeris' eyes began to water as she felt his spirit slipping away. She could help him, she knew she could. "Let him go, Aeris!" Hearing the urgency in Ifalna's voice, she shook her head to clear away the shadow and reluctantly turned back around and crawled down through the hatch grabbing the lever as she did. She pulled it down with her and set it in place and together they heaved the hatch back in place. After they settled it back down, the two of them buckled from the strain and rested for a moment. Aeris more for grief than exhaustion and Ifalna from the stabbing pain that was now starting to press up into her chest. She gave a little moan as she slid down the wall to sit and Aeris looked at her alarmed.

"Mom..." Aeris began but Ifalna cut her short.

"We still have a long way to go." She whispered and sat up to move on. She braced herself and used the wall to steady herself as she stood. She bit down on her lip and started walking in the direction the red pipes were leading. Aeris followed closely with her lever in hand.

The tunnel seemed to go on forever and there were several times they heard soldiers running above them. Every time they passed by, the two dropped down and held their breath and waited until they couldn't hear them anymore. Then they got back up and continued on as quickly as they could.

After what seemed like an eternity, they heard the train whistle and felt the ground shake as it came to a halt at the station. Ifalna breathed a sigh of relief and as she exhaled her whole body shuddered with exhaustion. "Be strong, Aeris." She found herself saying. Aeris looked at her puzzled but said nothing, instead only nodded and began to set the lever up so they could move the hatch for them to crawl out. They both readied themselves but found that this grate was lighter than the one outside the Shinra building and opened it with minimal effort.

Aeris climbed up first to take a look around. She poked her head up to make sure there wasn't anyone around and when she saw that there wasn't, she climbed out. The openning to the drain was in an alley behind the train station and Aeris took a moment to examine her new surroundings. The noises and smells were so alien compared to what she was used to and her senses were exploding with excitement and fear.

"Psst!" Ifalna said calling her back from her revelry. Aeris turned back to the drain as Ifalna was passing up the lever to her. She took it and set it down on the ground getting ready to help her mother up.

"Well, looky here." Said an angry, nasally voice from behind her. Startled, Aeris turned to see who had spoken. "It seems like a gutter rat has made it's way into my home." He was tall with a pointed chin and a sharp hooked nose and his eyes were sunken into his face. His clothes were filthy and hung loosely on his skeletal frame. The only thing he had of value was a bangle attached to his wrist which had probably been stolen. Frightened, Aeris began to say she was sorry but stopped as he started eyeing her and his irritated expression changed into something malicious. "Hmm, maybe not a rat. A lost little kitten perhaps?" Aeris quickly snatched up the lever and held it tightly in front of her as she backed away from him. "Oh my, my, my." He said mockingly, "The little kitten wants to fight. OK then."

He charged forward and Aeris swung the lever towards his head. He caught the end of it and sneered at her pulling the lever and her closer to him. She gaped at him for a moment stunned, but she quickly regained her senses and swung the bottom end of the lever low at his shin. He yelped as the metal hit his shin full force and loosened his grip on the lever enough for Aeris to pull it away and take another swing. He held up his arm to absorb the blow and she struck the bangle on his wrist which came flying off and landed behind him. She quickly backed up and thrust the end of it into his stomach, pulled away and brought it back down for another head shot which this time made contact. A trail of blood followed the corner of her weapon. She had managed to open a large gash across his cheek and blood was pouring out of it. They stared at the blood on the ground both of them equally in shock.

Remembering herself, she brought the lever up to hit him again, but her attacker was quicker. He angrily grabbed the bar and shoved it into her ribs and then threw her up. She flew through the air and landed on her back getting the wind knocked out of her. She gasped for air and looked up to see the man looming over her ready to strike her again. Click. They both looked back to see Ifalna closing the thief's bangle over her wrist.

"What's this?" He asked Aeris who was trying to scoot away from him. "Mama kitty?"

"Get away from my daughter." She told him as she held up the armor. When he only gawked at her in confusion she smirked. "I guess you didn't know what you had." Pulses of light rippled out on the ground around her and she thrust out her hand towards him, the air crackled and then exploded surrounding the man in a blaze of fire. He shrieked and shrunk to the ground writhing in pain. She motioned for Aeris to come to her and together they walked up to the platform to board the next train running down to the slums.

As soon as the call went out that the train was boarding, Ifalna flashed the passes to the conductor and they got on without any trouble. Before Aeris had a chance to ask, Ifalna told her again not to heal her. "We can't take the chance that someone will see you." She whispered to her.

"Why?" Aeris asked frustrated. "Why didn't you let me before when we were alone?" Ifalna closed her eyes and leaned back against the hard cushioned backs of the train seats.

"It'll be hard for you to understand." She said slowly. "I needed it...I needed to feel the pain." Aeris' eyes widened in disbelief, but said nothing and Ifalna continued. "It was a reminder that...that if I failed, you'd feel the same pain." She looked at her daughter, tears welling up in her eyes. "I would rather hurt for a thousand years than ever let that happen to you. I couldn't live with myself if we had been caught again because I was selfish..."

"You've never ever been selfish!" Aeris exclaimed and took her mother's hand. "You could never be." She said softly feeling her own tears well up in her eyes. She wiped them away and sniffed.

"Aeris, please promise me..." She took her small chin in her hand and gently turned her face toward her so they were looking at each other. "Promise that no matter what happens, you won't try to heal me until I'm sure we're safe. If we're taken because you were seen, everything we've been through will be for nothing. Asalie's sacrifice will have been for nothing. Please promise me, Aeris." Reluctantly Aeris promised and Ifalna sat back satisfied. After a few minutes Ifalna chuckled and thought aloud. "It's been a very long time since I was on a train."

The rest of their ride was quiet, interrupted by the occasional whispering from other passengers. Every time they made a stop and new passengers boarded they would look at Ifalna as if she were a ghost, understandable since she looked deathly white as one. Aeris tried to ignore them as best she could, not wanting to draw attention to herself. But then she felt it, that dark shadow pass through her. She looked up at her mother and gasped. She looked much worse now, her lips had turned blue and she looked as though she had a fever. She was fading and death was taking hold.

The train was slowing again and the conductor hallered, "Sector 7 slums! Last stop folks."

Ifalna heaved a heavy sigh as Aeris helped her to her feet and they slowly walked to the exit and stepped out onto the platform. It was early morning now and very few people were there. Aeris tried to hurry her mother along as fast as she could so they could find a safe place where she could help her, but Ifalna was weak and unable to move quickly. When they reached the stairs and Ifalna took a step, her legs buckled beneath her and she tumbled down the stairs and landed hard on the ground. Aeris rushed to her side and tried to help her up, but her strength had been sapped from her body and she lay there limp, barely breathing.

"Get up mama!" She told her shaking her, "We have to keep moving. Get up. Get up. Get up!"

Ifalna touched Aeris' hand and shook her head. She took off the newly acquired bangle equiped with the fire materia and put it on Aeris' small wrist. Then she ran her fingers through her hair and pulled at the tie that held her hair back. It came loose in her hand and she brought it up to the light. It was a small, beautiful orb that had a pale green glow. She took Aeris' hand and placed it on her palm then tightly closed her fingers around it. "This was meant for you." She whispered softly, "Guard it well..."

"Oh dear god!" Exclaimed a woman. She ran to Ifalna's side and looked her over. "We need to get you help." She was about to call out but Ifalna grabbed her arm with incredible force.

"No." She told her then started to loosen her grip. "Please..." She breathed, struggling to talk, "take Aeris somewhere safe..." Her hand went slack and she sank to the ground.

"Mama..." Aeris whispered while tears streamed down her face. "No, not yet." She sobbed as she clutched the small materia to her chest. Aeris felt the shadow drift away and be replaced by a light, tranquil sensation as her mother returned to the planet. She had left the pain behind and was now at peace and Aeris found solice in the embrace of this woman who had wanted to help them.

At least now, they were both free.