Yes, yes. I know that in reality Angeal has Zack kill him (the heartless bastard). But Genesis was already awol by that point, and that wouldn't do for this story. So yeah.
Anyways... Have fun with this chapter.
I watched Aeris as she leaned down next to the Mako spring. It was really just a small little pond that was a glowing pale green color and gurgled every now and then. But to Aeris, it seemed to be the world. Fenrir watched from behind me, the great wolf had been nice enough to carry us here… otherwise it would have taken us some time to get here.
"I still don't understand." She whispered, still beside the pool. Wisps of the lifestream floated up to surround her, and although I could tell she was startled, she was far more amazed. "But, its lovely here." I glanced around.
I guess it was lovely here. We were up in the mountains, so there was snow all around, but the mako fountain kept us warm. Yet, it didn't melt the snow. There were a few animals, small things like rabbits and birds. They crowded around us, unafraid of even Fenrir's presence. Fenrir was a pure Nibel Wolf… not what they had become due to the pollution of the lifestream and mutations. Here, the trees were evergreens, and they seemed to glow a dark emerald green in the faint light given off by the fountain.
I made a small noise of agreement, to show I was paying attention. This wasn't the only mako fountain in this area, but it was the one I liked the most. It was the least tainted. She hummed softly.
"I feel so warm." She murmured after a few more minutes. I knelt down beside her.
"Its your personal Lifestream resonating with the main lifestream. It flowing and circling through you faster than usual, creating that warming effect. The same would happen to anybody who comes here, although its greater with you and I."
"Because we're closer to the planet." I nodded, knowing she would feel it even if she didn't see it. "Why are you showing me this place?" She was thinking of my behavior in the mansion.
"I realized that I really was alone, just as you are."
"I have the generals." Her voice was softer than usual… she knew what I meant, but wanted me to come out and say it myself.
"But they don't really understand. In that, we're both alone. I could talk to my friend as much as I please, and he'd probably only understand half of what I say… just as you could talk to your generals and they'd probably only understand half. But, I could talk to you, and you'd understand a lot more.
"I tried to push you away, thinking the planet was playing match-maker or some other game… its fond of doing that. But, in the mansion, afterwards… I realized that it'd only been trying to…"
"Help us." She finished for me. I felt myself nod.
"Help us." I repeated. "You are Cetra, half Cetra, but still Cetra. My race, and yours… they had gotten along before, in the past. The planet wishes to… reestablish the bond between the two races."
"So you've figured out what you are?"
"No. At least… I don't think so. Its confusing."
"I'd understand."
"I'm related to Minerva. Specifically… I'm her son." I didn't feel the wave of awe coming from Aeris, and that made me happy. She'd understood, in that little tidbit.
"And you don't know what you are, or where you belong. In the lifestream, here on Gaia. Your existence is blurred, and you can't even think of it. Right?" I sighed and nodded. She felt sad. Not at me, but with me. It was… a good feeling.
Fenrir laid down behind us, and I willingly leaned back against him. Aeris seemed more cautious, but she too laid back against him.
"He's soft." I could hear her surprise and I smiled.
"On his back is the thick coarse fur you felt when we came here. On his belly, sides, and under that coarse fur is a softer coat. Makes for a good pillow." She giggled. I closed my eyes, listening to the sounds of the lifestream nearby. I felt Aeris' spirit feel at peace, just as she no doubt felt mine. We feel asleep there, content in each other's company, and the company provided by the lifestream.
I woke to the rising sun, and then waited for Aeris to get up. No doubt her SOLDIERs would be upset at me, but that was okay. She and I had finally reached a middle ground, and balance between us. We'd formed a bond, and the planet had sealed it.
She woke not too longer after I did, and then we started to make our journey back. A couple of times, we had a snowball fight, she won the third battle. I won the first two.
Fenrir was having none of it, hiding each time a battle broke out. I suppose he just didn't want snow in his fur. It was mid day by the time we reached the town, and I could hear the concerned SOLDIERs asking around for Aeris and me.
"Relax. I told you I'd be fine." Aeris spoke as she neared her SOLDIERs. A snow clump fell from her bangs. Her dress was sprinkled with little darker spots from the melting snow. Her cheeks were rosy as she smiled, her eyes brighter than I'd seen them before.
The SOLDIERs glared at me at first, but when Fenrir nuzzled Aeris in his way of saying good bye, the SOLDIERs glared at him instead. Aeris laughed at Fenrir, wished me and him a good day and went off on her way. About two steps away, she turned, thanked me, and then returned to her SOLDIERs.
I returned to the mansion. Where else was there for me to go?
~ Sephiroth's POV
When Aeris didn't return with Cloud anytime soon… I had just about blown a fuse. Genesis had as well. But Zack kept us clam, saying she'd return soon. She hadn't. Then morning came, and she still wasn't back. I really began to worry for her.
We went out into the town, asking everyone if they had seen or heard from either of them. The only information we had managed to get was from Tifa, and all she could say was that Cloud had decided not to share stories last night.
Then around mid day I heard Aeris voice and I just about leaped with joy. However, my reputation kept me from doing so. She seemed a lot more happier than when she had left.
If the snow on her and Cloud were any indication… she had him had been having snowball fights. But that didn't change the fact that her eyes were glowing brightly, her cheeks were rosy, and she was absolutely glowing with joy. The large wolf stalked over to her, and then had the audacity to nuzzle her, like she was a long time friend. She laughed, said good bye to Cloud and wished him a good day. Then she thanked him.
What was that about? He smiled, and turned away to leave, most likely to the mansion. Aeris finally reached us. "I saw a mako fountain! A real mako fountain!" She was like a little kid at Yule, a little kid who just had her deepest wish granted and got that doll she'd always been wanting. "It was so beautiful." Beautiful would not be a word I would have used, or a word that I have heard being used to describe a mako fountain. Ever. "And it made me feel all warm inside."
I furrowed my eyebrows. A mako fountain… making someone feel… warm? That was unusual. Whenever someone found a mako fountain, they usually complain of the cold, chilling feelings they got around it. To say it felt warm was strange.
"Cloud said it was the most untainted one around here." Pure mako? That was dangerous… didn't Aeris know that? The other seemed to have agreed. She frowned at us slightly. "Oh don't be like that. I know… its not safe, and all that. But it was safe. It was safe, and warm. "And I saw animals. Not monsters, but animals. I saw rabbits, and birds. I saw a mother deer and her child. It was… amazing!"
I exchanged glances with my companions. I had never seen her so worked up in such a happy way. Even Cloud had been smiling, and that seemed rare enough. Maybe… this mako spring wasn't so bad? The others seemed to have reached the same conclusion.
She seemed to have brightened up, sensing that we were accepting of the spring. "You know, I wonder… if the spring is the same one in the story. Speaking of which… I forgot to ask Cloud about the thing in the reactor."
"You're curious about that?" Genesis snorted out. "I'm much more interested in the goddess."
"Of course you are, Gengen. But… I'm not you." She giggled as she spoke, and even poked him on the nose. He twitched, and then smiled at her. "Although, I'll ask Cloud about her when I see him next." She paused. "I'll also see if I can get him to let you guys back into the mansion. He doesn't want you guys back in there because of Vincent. Apparently, he's bothered by you guys."
"I can't see why." Zack muttered, but he was smiling. "I think he as more of a problem with Sephiroth." Aeris shrugged.
"I didn't meet him, so I can't tell. Anyways, I'm in a good mood, and I want some fun." She laughed, and as she did so, snow started to fall softly. She twirled around in it, and I found that I felt rather content. Maybe I could drop the issue with Cloud and the mansion just for today.
