Final Fantasy VII [3rd Instalment]
Emerald Princess of Vernea
Chapter Forty-Four
Cloud knelt down at the edge of the mako pit. He looked down the walls at the calmly glowing mako pit far below them. He watched as the platforms they had used to get down to the bottom crumble and fall into the pool, along with the scattered remains of the podium where they had fought Jenova. There was no trace of the calamity or her 'son'. Both were finally gone.
Following Sephiroth's demise, a fierce storm had ripped through the Twirling Heavens. The high winds had lifted the companions off their feet and carried them through the clouds, until a bright light had appeared and snatched them away. The Twirling Heavens had vanished from their sight, and when the light finally faded they had found themselves back here, safe and unharmed.
Cloud watched as the last of the platforms splashed into the mako and sank from view. He could hardly believe it. Sephiroth was finally defeated.
Yet he thought that he would feel… different, somehow. Relieved, or elated. Instead he felt… nothing. He knew the reason why. Like the Northern Crater—damaged centuries ago by another catastrophic disaster—the hole that Sephiroth had made deep inside would take a long time to heal. Sephiroth was gone, but the damage was already done. Still…
"This is all we could do," the swordsman said, rising to his feet. It was time to go.
"Wait!" Barret interrupted. Cloud looked at him over his shoulder. "What about Holy?" Barret asked him. "What's gonna happen to the Planet?"
Cloud sighed and folded his arms across his chest. He tapped his foot. "That… I don't know," he answered finally. He shrugged. "Isn't the rest up to the Planet?"
The Planet… Holy acted on the Planet's will. With Sephiroth dead and gone, everything else was for the Planet to decide. Were their efforts enough to make the Planet decide to save humanity? Any moment from now Holy would begin to move and they would have their answer. The companions thought this over, and one by one they nodded in agreement.
"…You're right," said Tifa. "We've done all that we could do."
Cloud looked around at his friends. They were all tired and weary, worn out from the long battles. Yet they had all managed to survive.
"All right, everyone." Cloud clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention. His friends turned to him. "It's no use thinking about it. We'll leave all our worries here. Let's go home proud."
The companions looked at one another. Cloud was right. Whether the Planet chose to eliminate them or not, at least they had done what they had set out to do. Defeat Sephiroth and release Holy from its captivity. From here on out, everything that was left was up to the Planet. Their job was over.
Cid reached behind his goggles and pulled out a welcome victory cigarette from his nearly empty pack. He put it to his lips, lit it, and took a long drag. He exhaled with a content sigh, and then he heaved his spear up onto his shoulder. He then walked along the winding path, leading Barret and the others out. The monsters that had swarmed the crater walls were gone, leaving the path clear.
Cloud and Tifa were the last to leave. Tifa took a moment to look at Cloud. She knew what he was thinking. She felt the same. Sephiroth had been a major part of her life, too. Because of him, she had lost her home and her father, and had nearly lost herself in the process. Yet here she was now. In the end, Sephiroth could not take away everyone that was precious to her. Cloud and the rest of her friends were still with her. For that, at least, Tifa was thankful. She smiled at Cloud, and then turned and walked after the others.
Cloud started to go after her. Just as he stepped forward a sharp piercing pain shot through his mind, like an electric shock. Cloud stopped and touched his forehead. Tifa, realising that Cloud had stopped, turned to him.
"What happened?" she asked him.
Cloud looked down at the ground. His head was buzzing. "…..I feel it…" he said.
Tifa tilted her head, confused. "What…"
Ha, ha, ha…
Another flash of pain shot through Cloud's mind. The swordsman blinked. He put his hand to his head and shook it. He knew this feeling only too well. And that voice… No, it couldn't possibly… His heart started to race.
"He is still… here."
Ha, ha, ha…
Once again Cloud felt that painful buzz running through his mind. It was growing in strength. Cloud put his hands to his head. "Still…" His legs buckled and he dropped to his knees. Still the pain was growing. That strange voice was echoing throughout his mind. Cloud writhed, trying to shake the sound from his head.
"Cloud!" It was Tifa's voice, calling out to him. Her voice echoed faintly inside his head, drowned out by the pain and the strange, booming laughter.
"He's… laughing…"
His vision blurred, and the ground started to spin. Cloud closed his eyes. He felt himself rising up off the ground and into the air. When he opened his eyes he saw Tifa on the path below, running towards him… towards him, for his body was still there below him. Cloud closed his eyes again as his spirit turned towards the mako pool and started to descend.
"Cloud!"
But Cloud could no longer hear her. The mako pool surged up to meet him and he landed with a splash. Cool warmth passed over Cloud's skin as he sank. His face burned hot with a familiar fever, which then swiftly passed and left him feeling cool and calm. Cloud released his head and let his arms fall to his sides. He relaxed his body, letting himself sink deeper into the mako.
As he sank further and further into the heart of the Planet, old memories started to resurface. Familiar sounds, like the loud and cheerful music of Gold Saucer, echoed around him. The crash of the waves as they broke on the shores of Costa del Sol. The heavy metal scent of Midgar drifted past him, followed by the horrible sounds of screams as the Sector 7 plate dropped down on the innocent people below.
Before Cloud's eyes, an image came to him. He was deep underwater, with bubbles of white light rising around him. High above the water, he could see Meteor hovering close to the Planet. Close… Too close. When did Meteor get so close? Had Sephiroth done something to draw Meteor closer? Cloud's brows drew together. Was this a vision from the Planet, warning him?
Cloud turned away from Meteor and began to descend deeper into the water. Darkness closed around him, and voices began to echo through his mind. He heard the voices of his friends, and the voices of Biggs, Wedge and Jessie. The voices of Reno and Rude, Tseng and Elena… And behind them all there was a small, unknown voice…
It was the voice of the Planet.
The Planet was crying out to Cloud. It was in pain and terribly afraid. Afraid of the giant celestial body that was heading towards it; afraid of the terrifying being that lived inside it, threatening to take its life. Holy… The Planet could not fend off Meteor without it, and it could not use Holy until Sephiroth was gone.
Though the Planet's words were impossible to understand, their meaning was clear…
Help me.
I'll help you, Cloud thought as he fell deeper into the Planet. Just… take me to him.
In an instant the voices ceased. A light appeared ahead. Cloud raised his head and opened his eyes. He looked ahead.
Sephiroth was there, standing at the very heart of the Planet. He was back in his human form and now he stood, bare-chested, with his long silver hair blowing gently around him. He held his sword, the masamune, in his left hand ready.
Sephiroth raised his eyes. When he saw Cloud coming towards him, his glowing eyes widened; the pupils narrowed. Sephiroth smiled coldly.
Cloud gazed back at Sephiroth. His own eyes—glowing with the same, mako-infused light—hardened. Whether the Planet chose to spare humanity or not, he would at least do the Planet a favour and rid it of Sephiroth once and for all.
The unknown hand that had been guiding Cloud up to this point then released its hold on him, and Cloud floated down onto the dark platform. The two men faced each other, staring closely at one another.
"So, Cloud…" Sephiroth said, his voice piercing the calmness of the Planet's heart. "Here we are."
"…Here we are," agreed Cloud.
Sephiroth's smile widened. He walked slowly around Cloud in a wide circle, keeping his distance. His leather creaked loudly as he moved. His fingers flexed around the hilt of the masamune, finding a more comfortable grip. Cloud watched Sephiroth's every move, his body tense, ready to move at a moment's notice. Sephiroth's arm muscles tightened and then relaxed.
"You've come a long way since Nibelheim."
"Thanks. Forgive me if I don't return the compliment."
Sephiroth stopped. He turned to face Cloud. "So tell me…" he began. "How do you think you'll fare now that you're on your own? Without your friends to help you?"
Cloud closed his eyes. In his mind's eye he saw his friends, standing together on the bridge of the Highwind. They were all there, waiting for him to come back.
"Alone?" Cloud shook his head. "No. As long as there are people out there that I can protect, then I am never alone." The swordsman reached behind him and drew the Buster Sword. "Unlike you. You have no one."
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow. He walked around Cloud once more and then stopped in front of him. He changed his stance; raised his sword above his head. The masamune's blade flashed brightly. "Let's get this over with," Sephiroth said.
Cloud raised his sword. The two men stood facing each other. They looked deep into each other's eyes with unwavering determination. The tension grew between them, bearing down upon them, as they continued to stare fiercely at one another, waiting for the other to make a move.
Cloud made his move first. He charged at Sephiroth.
"Captain? I'm the Captain! The name's Cid. Everyone calls me 'Captain' though. What d'ya want?"
"I was with… the Shinra Manufacturing Department in Administrative Research—the Turks… Vincent."
Cloud could hear them—the words of his friends. He could feel their presence with him, and their strength. He drew back his blade. Across from him, Sephiroth also charged, darting across the shadows of the Planet's heart.
"How 'bout it? Want me to read your fortune? A bright future! A happy future! Oh, but don't hold it against me if it's not a good prediction! Oh, so sorry. I'm a fortune telling machine. The name's Cait Sith!"
"Huh? Hey… HEY! Wait! I haven't even told you my name… I'm Yuffie! Good to meetcha!"
Sephiroth drew back his own blade. He smiled as he ran and raised his masamune high. The long silver blade flashed brightly as he ran forward, eager to bring this confrontation to a swift and bloody end.
"Hojo has named me Red XIII. A name with no meaning whatsoever to me. Call me whatever you wish."
"Ex-SOLDIER, huh? Don't trust ya!"
Cloud gave a loud cry. The materia in his gauntlets glowed, passing their energy down Cloud's hands and into the blade. There was a loud roar as three Bahamut dragons also gave their energy to Cloud, passing their strength into his blade.
"Welcome home, Cloud. Looks like everything went well. Did you fight with Barret?"
The two men drew close.
"Cloud… I'm searching for you."
"…?"
"I want to meet you."
"But I'm right here."
"I know, I know… what I mean is… I want to meet… you."
Cloud swung his sword. At the same time Sephiroth moved, swinging his own sword, bringing it down to meet Cloud's head-on.
The two swords clashed. As the blades connected, sparks of light danced along them and into the air around the two swordsmen. Cloud gave another yell and pushed on his sword. Sephiroth pushed back, and then his eyes widened in surprise as the masamune was suddenly wrenched from his hands. The blade went flying through the air and out of his reach.
Cloud did not hesitate. He darted forward, breaking through Sephiroth's defences, and swung his sword. The Buster Sword glowed as he struck; landing blows again and again without pause or respite. Sephiroth cried out as each blow hit home, unable to defend himself from Cloud's attack.
For the final blow, Cloud leaped into the air and raised his sword above his head. The tip glowed brightly as all the energy within the blade gathered at that one point. Cloud descended and brought the blade crashing down upon Sephiroth.
Sephiroth stepped back, moving shakily and clutching at his wounded chest. Blood poured down his face and chest, spilling through his closed fingers and dripping onto the floor. Sephiroth coughed, and the movement caused him to drop his masamune, which clattered onto the floor. Sephiroth took a deep, shaky breath and slowly raised his head. He looked at Cloud, standing before him… and he smiled.
Then, suddenly, Sephiroth's smile vanished. His mouth fell open, and his eyes widened in fear and surprise. A deep, burning sensation spread throughout his body like wildfire, as though he was burning from the inside. Beams of light burst out of his waist and torso. The calamity tried to move, but the inner burning had left him completely immobile and defenceless.
The beams spread along his arms and legs, until Sephiroth's entire body was aglow with a piercing, blinding light. Tiny crimson balls of energy—Sephiroth's own life force—emerged from within him. More and more drifted out and Sephiroth's body grew smaller and smaller, until there was nothing left of him. The light disappeared, and Sephiroth was finally gone.
Cloud watched in silence as the balls of red energy drifted through the air above him. Sephiroth's last remnants…
A gentle green light began to glow around him. Cloud's eyes were drawn downwards as a spiral of pale green energy rose up out of the ground at his feet. The tendril wound itself loosely around Cloud, offering thanks. It radiated a soothing warmth that eased the pain of his injuries, the only way it could express its gratitude.
The tendril then moved upwards and headed towards the red energy still drifting above him. More tendrils followed it, and they gathered around the red energy. Both lights were drawn together, forming a single ball of shimmering energy. The ball then exploded outwards and the tendrils emerged once more. All traces of the red energy were gone, eradicated from existence.
With the red energy gone, the tendrils drifted upwards. Cloud watched as they weaved through the air, passing over each other. The swordsman's eyes widened as it finally dawned on him just what thee green tendrils really were.
"…Lifestream?"
The Lifestream: the life source of the Planet and everything on it. Cloud remembered Bugenhagen's words well. Everything that lived was born from the Lifestream, and when their lives reached their end they returned to the Lifestream, rejoining the endless river. Sephiroth had also been born from the Lifestream and so when he had been defeated, the Lifestream had come to take his life energy back.
Cloud continued to watch the wispy tendrils of the Lifestream. They converged at a point above him, forming a large globe of light. Something began to emerge from within it and Cloud's mouth fell open, unable to believe his eyes. It was a hand—a familiar hand, for he recognised the bracelets dangling around the wrists—reaching out to him. Instinctively Cloud reached up to the light, ready to take that hand and let it lead him home.
The ground suddenly started to shake, and in a flash Cloud found himself back in the mako pit, on one of the remaining floating platforms. The Lifestream, the light and the hand were all gone. Around him the mako pit was shaking violently, as a powerful quake rumbled from deep within the Planet.
Tifa was right above him, leaning over the edge of the path. She was shouting his name, calling for him to reach her. Cloud looked around him. The mako pool was rising rapidly and was already no more than a few metres beneath him. Cloud inched his way forward on the shaking platform. He tried to reach for Tifa, but she was well out of his reach.
The platform he was standing on gave a sudden lurch and split into two. Cloud dropped his hand and staggered, almost thrown from the platform as one of the now two halves began to slip down towards the rising pool.
When she saw Cloud stagger, Tifa cried out and leaned further over the edge of the path. A crack appeared in the crater wall beneath where Tifa was kneeling. It spread quickly until it reached the path and a chunk of the rock fell away, taking Tifa with it. She fell headfirst, heading towards the rocks.
Cloud had to move quickly. Ignoring his own plight he darted forward, leaping over the crumbling rock even as it fell away beneath him. He caught Tifa as she fell and then made a break for the overhead path. He jumped and his fingers grabbed onto the edge, just as the rock smashed into the ground. The collision caused the ground to crumble and fall into the mako pool, landing with a splash.
Cloud clung to the edge of the path. Tifa had her arms wrapped tightly around his chest, holding onto him. The two dangled over the mako pool.
"I think I'm beginning to understand," Cloud said suddenly.
Tifa looked up. "What?" she asked him.
The swordsman raised his head and looked up to the top of the crater, barely visible through the clouds of dirt shaken from the crater walls. Another tremor shook the crater, and a chunk of rock fell from above and splashed into the pool.
"An answer from the Planet…" Cloud said. He looked down now, into the glowing mako pool below him and Tifa. "The Promised Land… I think I can meet her… there."
Aeris… Tifa's eyes filled. She smiled softly; laid her head against his chest. "Yeah, let's go meet her," she whispered.
Beneath them, the mako pool shimmered as something moved beneath its surface. It glowed hotly for a brief moment before returning to its calm state.
Cloud turned his attention back to the ledge. He pulled himself and Tifa up to the ledge. When they were close enough Cloud gave Tifa a push onto the ledge. The fighter pulled herself up and then turned to help Cloud. He took her hand and she pulled him up onto the ledge beside her. Cloud looked around him.
"Hey, where is everyone?" he asked Tifa.
"Heeeey!"
Cloud and Tifa looked across the pit. Barret and the others were on the other side, sitting on the path, safe and sound. Barret raised his arm over his head.
Tifa waved at them. "I'm glad you're all safe!" she called.
Seeing Tifa's energetic wave, Barret sighed and sat back on the rock. "They seem to be safe, too," he said to Cid. The pilot, next to him, silently nodded his head. Barret looked down at the pit, where the mako pool was continuing to rise. "But…" he continued, "now what are we going to do?"
A loud rumble sounded from deep beneath the earth. Somewhere at the bottom of the pit, something was beginning to give way. Yuffie leaned over the edge of the path and looked down into the mako. It was impossible to see anything beneath its shifting surface. The ninja turned and looked up at Vincent, who shook his head.
"Holy should be moving soon," said Red XIII, "and that means this place will…" He let the sentence hang. Everyone knew what would happen if Holy began to move while they were still in the crater.
Cid turned his gaze to the sky. "Oh, Lady Luck don't fail me now…" he prayed.
Just as he finished his prayer, the crater began to tremble. Cid's jaw fell open, and his cigarette dropped down onto the floor. It rolled to the end of the path and slipped over the edge. It landed on top of the mako pool, gave a slight hiss as it went out, and then sank out of sight.
Everyone looked up to the top of the crater. A violent tremor began to shake the Northern Crater down to its very foundations. The tremors grew so strong that they began to tear the crater apart. Chunks of rock broke away from the walls and smashed onto the path, cutting off any hopes of retreat. More rock tumbled from above, followed by a thick, smothering cloud of dirt and rock that descended rapidly down the crater towards them. The eight companions rose to their feet, bracing themselves for the end.
The cloud of dirt suddenly parted and the Highwind emerged from above. When the tremors began, a cloud of dust rose up and engulfed the Highwind, stalling its engines and causing it to plummet into the crater. Hurriedly the companions ran out of the way and clung to the crater walls as the airship came crashing down. It slammed into the path and lodged there, still, with dust and rocks falling over it.
A bright glow filled the Northern Crater. The air surrounding the crater began to ripple and waver, growing so hot that the ice on the trees and mountains began to melt. The light grew brighter and brighter and then suddenly burst forth in a wave of intense blue-white energy. It was Holy, released at last from its prison at the heart of the Planet and bursting to the surface in a powerful wave, sending a shockwave ripping through the forests around the crater.
As Holy burst out of the earth, the Highwind was thrown up and out of the crater. The airship was carried upwards before finally breaking free. It tumbled through the air, unable to right itself. What was worse, Holy's immense power was tearing the airship apart. The jets that powered the airship snapped from the wings and fell towards the ground. The Highwind hurtled towards the crater below, unable to do anything to stop itself.
Inside the Highwind, the companions were being thrown out by the buffeting of the airship. The airship lurched and leaned heavily to one side. Cloud clung onto the main console with one hand, with Tifa holding onto the other, trying to keep them both from falling off their feet. Barret came sliding past them, narrowly missing Red XIII, whose claws were dug into the grated ground. Yuffie tumbled past Cait as he staggered about on his Mog. Vincent pushed himself away from the rails and ran behind Yuffie, catching the ninja before she slammed into the wall.
Cid was on his belly, clinging onto a handle attached to the floor. He heard the pained roar of the engines as they fought to steady the airship. He heard the sirens whirring loudly; saw the red flash of the lights.
"Shit!" the pilot cursed fervently. He reached up with his free hand, trying to grab hold of the Emergency lever that was positioned at ground level by the main console. His fingers brushed the handle and then slipped off. The pilot tried again, and once more his fingers slipped away. He could feel his grip on the handle weakening, and with one fervent push the pilot reached up and grabbed hold of the lever. He pulled it towards him as hard as he possibly could.
The airship shuddered and exploded in a large ball of flame just moments before it would have smashed into the outer perimeter of the Northern Crater. The Highwind burst out of the flames. Its shape had changed once again, with two large, flat wings at the sides and a single, powerful jet-powered engine at the back. The newly emerged airship spiralled out of the flames and moved away from the crater, following Holy as it turned in the sky, heading south.
Meanwhile, in Kalm, Marlene was sitting by herself in her room, waiting anxiously for news on her father. Elmyra was downstairs in the living room, also waiting.
It had been almost two days since she and Elmyra had been taken from their rooms at Shinra Headquarters, and almost a full day since her father had left again. Barret had promised her that he would be coming home soon, and she believed him. But Marlene was a bright young girl; she knew when something wasn't right. She could see the worry in her father's eyes, and ever since he left she had maintained a silent vigil in her room, waiting for him to come back for her.
Her thoughts turned to Aeris, the flower girl. Marlene thought about Aeris a lot, especially since she learned of her death. It was strange… Any time Marlene had felt troubled or sad, she thought she felt a hand touch her shoulder. It was a comforting feeling and it reminded Marlene that she was not alone. Her father… Tifa and Cloud… They would all be coming back. She thought of Aeris right then, as she prayed for the safety of her father and his friends.
Suddenly, Marlene raised her head. She thought she had heard a voice whisper her name. "The flower girl?" she said aloud, recognising the voice.
The voice was coming from outside. Marlene pushed back her chair and ran over to the window. Elmyra had left it unlocked. Marlene pushed it open and looked outside.
She was met by a strong wind that was blowing fiercely throughout Kalm. The wind was so strong it almost wrenched the shutters from her hands, and sent her hair whipping about her face.
Wispy tendrils of dark red energy had fallen over the Kalm, giving the rural village a ghastly aura. The air was warm even though it was dark outside, and there was a strange smell being carried on the wind. Marlene turned her eyes westward and looked over at Midgar, her former home.
Meteor was there. It had pierced through the atmosphere and was now descending on the Planet, with Midgar directly at the point of impact. The flames that had covered its body were gone and Marlene saw in perfect detail the craters that covered its surface. The meteor dwarfed the great city, almost twice its size. When Meteor hit Midgar would be crushed, until no trace of it remained. The wispy tendrils that flowed through Kalm were coming from Meteor, converging around Midgar.
Forked blue bolts of lightning flashed and rent the air. Fierce whirlwinds rose up from inside Midgar's perimeter and joined with Meteor, connecting the two. As Meteor gave them strength the whirlwinds grew thicker and stronger, and began to ravage the upper plates of the city. Anything that came in their path was destroyed, and there was nothing that was not in their path. There were eight tornados in all, one in each of Midgar's eight sectors, including the ruins of Sector 7.
Deadly plates of sharp metal went flying into the air as the tornados tore them from the ground, filling the air with lethal shrapnel. The whirlwinds were drawn inwards towards Shinra Headquarters and began to tear up the ground outside. The watchtowers and scaffolding supporting the cannon were destroyed as the tornados came past. One bolt of blue lightning rose up from the ground at the feet of one of the whirlwinds and struck the main building. It tore mercilessly through the building. When it reached the top the upper beams gave way. The top floors fell away and crashed into the ground below.
The whirlwinds moved back out again. Homes were ripped apart, reduced to rubble. One of the mako reactors exploded into flames, though the mako supply had been shut off. The whirlwinds continued their assault on the city. Soon there would be nothing left that resembled Midgar. The whirlwinds would destroy everything, and then Meteor would finish the job by ploughing the city into the ground.
All of this Marlene watched from her bedroom window, her eyes wide in wonder. Once again she heard the voice—Aeris's voice. Marlene leaned out of her window, trying to see where the voice had come from.
A light flashed over the horizon, breaking through the night sky, preceding Holy's arrival. Holy appeared and raced forwards, heading towards Midgar and Meteor. The blessed light struck and sliced through the raging whirlwinds, severing their connection to the Planet. On contact Holy flashed brightly, and Marlene had to shield her eyes from the pure light.
Holy spread out over Midgar and the surrounding land, covering it in a protective shield. Meteor touched Holy's surface. Both powers shimmered brightly as they exerted their will against one another, fighting to see who would emerge the strongest. Meteor pushed against Holy and, slowly, began to break through. It pierced through Holy's sparkling shield and came out the other side, continuing its descent upon Midgar. The dark red aura returned with devastating fury, bathing the city and the underside of Holy's shield in a sea of red. Red clouds swept through the city, smothering it in deadly smoke.
Cloud and his friends watched from the Highwind as Holy struck. The airship was flying above Meteor and Holy, keeping at a safe distance. The companions clustered together around the window, peering out. Meteor's intimidating glow spread rapidly across the ground, and they could see the blue lightning start to flash once more.
When Barret saw Meteor begin to break through Holy's defences, he blinked and turned to his friends. "Wait a damn minute!" he said gruffly. "What about Midgar?" The resistance leader slammed his fist into the rail. "We can't let that happen!"
"I had everyone take refuge in the slums," said Cait, "but the way things are now…" He looked out at the devastated city, barely visible through Holy's light. Cait lowered his head, his ears drooped, and he rubbed his eyes. The plates would provide little protection for those sheltering underneath.
Red XIII padded up to stand beside Cloud. "It's too late for Holy," he said. Through the rails he watched as Meteor continued to push itself deeper into Holy's shield. Holy responded by trying to draw its energy around Meteor, gathering its strength at the point of impact. Its efforts were in vain, for Meteor continued to push through. "Meteor is approaching the Planet. Holy is having the opposite effect."
Holy rose up around Meteor's lower half, forming a protective cocoon. Waves of energy spilled down its surface as it was repelled by Meteor. From below the blue lightning flashed and struck Holy, but Holy persevered and continued to fight against its opposite, trying desperately to keep Meteor from reaching the Planet.
"Forget Midgar," said Red XIII, "we've gotta worry about the Planet now."
Cloud gazed down at the hound. Red XIII was still watching Holy, his gaze unwavering. He was right. There was no point in worrying what would happen to Midgar now. If Holy could not stop Meteor from landing, then more than Midgar would be destroyed. Everything on the planet would die, and the Planet itself would perish along with them.
Cid brought the airship around and moved it away from Midgar. They all knew that there was nothing they could do to help the Planet now. Stopping Meteor was up to the Planet and the Planet alone. All that they could do now was watch and wait, and hope that Holy would prevail.
Unfortunately it seemed to be a losing battle. With every second that passed, Meteor drew ever closer to the Planet. Holy was growing weaker. Meteor's strength was beginning to overpower it. At any moment now Holy would give way and Meteor would be released in all its fury.
Cid tapped his finger against the wheel, keeping the airship at a safe distance from the impact zone. Beside him, Barret continued to watch out the window. Cait, unable to watch as Meteor drew closer, sat forlornly on the head of his Mog and tapped his megaphone on his lap. Vincent folded his arms across his chest, his eyes fixed on Meteor and Holy. Yuffie knelt on the floor, holding her precious materia in her arms.
Cloud turned away from Holy and leaned against the rail. Could Holy really lose? He looked down at Red XIII. The hound, feeling Cloud's gaze on him, looked up. Cloud saw hope still burned in Red XIII's one good eye. The hound still believed in Holy and in the Planet. Cloud brushed the hound's mane with his hand. The swordsman then looked away from the hound and turned to Tifa, standing next to him.
Tifa, also, turned to look at him. She was about to say something encouraging, when her eyes suddenly drifted past Cloud, towards Midgar.
"What's that!"
The companions turned and looked out of the window. Outside of Midgar, some distance away from the impact zone, something was beginning to emerge out of the ground. The dry, cracked soil shifted, and a long, slender green wisp of energy pushed its way up out of the ground. The wisp wavered; the numerous strands of pale green energy that made up its body shimmered. Then the wisp began to make its way southwards, heading towards Midgar.
Another wispy tendril pushed its way out of the earth close to the first, and also began to head south. A third tendril followed it and then another… Dozens of them were emerging all at once from the very dark depths of the Planet. They moved together, moving in gentle waves.
The companions all leaned against the rails, watching as dozens more wisps of energy rose out of the Planet's surface. The dark and withered land was quickly covered in lines of pale green light that wove and wound around each other to form even larger tendrils of pulsing energy. More tendrils began to rise to the west of Midgar and to the east, and then finally from the south. They just kept on appearing, more and more of them, seemingly endless.
"What the hell IS that…?" asked Barret. He looked at Cloud.
Cloud did not take his eyes away from the window, his gaze fixed on the tendrils as they wound their way towards the airship. "…Lifestream," he said simply.
Barret stared at him, and then slowly turned back to the window. So this was the Lifestream… Barret was not a sentimental man or a philosophical one, but it touched him in a very deep place in his heart to think that the Planet would resort to this: to use its own life energy in the fight against Meteor. He watched the tendrils as they moved onwards towards Midgar.
In Kalm, the villagers opened their windows and watched as a pale green glow appeared over the horizon. It seemed that even the living were drawn to this, compelled to watch by a spiritual feeling only the very old understood. Marlene stared, her eyes wide.
"It's coming," she said, as the green glow grew brighter.
As Marlene watched more tendrils rose up out of the ground between Kalm and Midgar. They rose up tall, intertwining, heading eastward toward the city. A glow then fell over her and the young girl looked up to see even more tendrils passing by overhead. They joined with the rest of the swarm.
The Lifestream approached Midgar. The first of the tendrils reached Holy and touched its shimmering edge. The Lifestream and Holy merged together, becoming one. More tendrils followed it, and more still rose up and over before delving down into Holy. The power and will of the Lifestream poured into Holy, giving it strength that came from the Planet itself. Holy's shield strengthened and Meteor's descent slowed almost to a complete stop. It pushed against Holy, trying to force its way through.
The Lifestream swarmed over the city—ten thousand tendrils strong and more—gathering around the two great magicks. The tendrils rose up and moved over Holy, collecting around Meteor. They began to spread up Meteor's surface, covering it and keeping it at bay. Waves of energy began to pulse from Holy as the Planet poured more of its life energy into it, fighting to the very last.
Finally, one of the two forces gave way. A bright white light burst into the sky and swept across the land, drowning everything in a blinding light. The companions closed their eyes, unable to watch, and Marlene shielded her own eyes with her hand.
The light grew brighter and brighter, until both Meteor and Holy vanished from their sight, drawn in by the unyielding light…
As the light began to fade, returning to the endless darkness, Cloud thought he saw Aeris standing amongst the shadows, her face bathed in sparkles of light. Her eyes were closed, her head lowered, as though in prayer.
As he watched her, Aeris opened her eyes and raised her head.
She smiled.