Major A/N
Yes I know everyone is like "WTF ZOMG" and such so I will explain. Yesterday I had finished the chapter. However, my computer had a major malfunction and most of my work I kept on here was lost. I was angry until i realized i was smart enough to keep back ups of the story on a USB. The result? I only had the beginning saved. Because of this i had to re type the entire chapter from memory. Because of this I feel this chapter isn't as good as it could have been and it annoys me. This may be one of my revised chapters in the future but I am not sure.
Okay lighter a sense its kind of funny this happened. A random anon review mentioned for me to not, like many authors; wait one month before making this chapter. the idea of waiting a day or two passed my mind just to spite anon, but i scratched it...but i had to redo this so...i have no idea how this works out.
I got Asura's Wrath and i must say its like playing an anime. The crossover idea i mentioned a few chappa's ago might actually be a project.
the future for Stranger from the sky. Due to some ideas i have some of the plot lines of AC and DoC won't be cannon, especially DoC, BUT i actually thought of a plot line on the fly that I am proud of considering i have literally been writing this entire story from idea to idea.
Botoingness now holds the title for longest review as well as most enthusiastic, he has updated his story chosen as well. The-Living-Shadow holds most in depth, and I think that's all for news. So audience the chappa you've been waiting for.
Ch 29
I remember a long time ago hearing a quote. "Hope for the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised." If anything I stopped at the first and was completely knocked back by the last.
When I had entered the underground temple I was happy Aeris wasn't already there. It gave me time to plan where and when I would be able to strike. But I found out how bad the area was. In the atrium Aeris would pray there wasn't a path to get to it, only a few stones and stair case. It was surrounded by water and basically isolated from any point of easy entry. I didn't have enhanced jumping abilities even though I did drink any source we came upon.
In the end the only thing I was able to find that could have remotely worked was a pillar off to the side. But I couldn't balance myself for a whole day on it. I hollowed it out with a few lightning bolts and waited. If there was anything that was key here, it was patience. For the entire day I waited, going over what I would do. Jumping in early was the only chance I would have. If I could save Aeris as well as at least harm Sephiroth in some way, the situation would have been perfect.
When I had first heard footsteps I froze up before finally checking. It was one of the hardest things in my life to see Aeris just waiting for her death and look away from it. As much as I wanted to go up and yell at her for doing something this stupid, dangerous... and ultimately unselfish act that she knew would help everyone. I didn't know how the process to summon Holy worked, whether she was only able to succeed in her last few moments or it just took a long time. All I knew was the sure way for Holy to still be summoned to stop Meteor as we fought Sephiroth was during the seconds before her death.
Eventually, it came time for the group to arrive. I had placed myself so I could cast a spell and knock Sephiroth away. Every nerve in my body stood on end when I heard Cloud's footsteps. I left my spot to see him slowly approach Aeris with his sword in hand. I held myself back from interrupting when he was about to attack her. When he finally came to his senses, noticed the shadow on the ground and looked. As much as I had planned, I had over looked multiple factors.
Sephiroth is a SOLDIER First Class, the best in fact. This led to him having speed that a normal human couldn't match. The minute I saw him jump down, he descended far faster than gravity should have let him. Not only that, but he does have a sword that had about three times the length of my sword. Even with my planning, Sephiroth was considered a genius and he knew he had a perfect moment to kill her.
The only thing that ran through my mind was to get Aeris out of the way. My casting time took about two to three seconds, which I didn't have. Taking a chance, I jumped from my position onto the podium and pushed Aeris out of the way. Looking back, the proper term would have been knocked since I was in her spot when I got her out of the way.
Being in Final Fantasy I experienced many things. Burns, bone fractures, wounds, cuts, concussions, mental and physical exhaustion along with many other things. None of which could have been compared to being stabbed by a man with a seven foot long sword, with strength to stop a Behemoth, slamming down on me. I felt more than five feet of the blade pass through me.
The pain didn't even register until I had breathed only to cough up blood. My odd angle caused him to hit somewhere near my lungs, if not through one. I yelled out, I had no tolerance for pain even after all of the fighting I had been through. My breathing was shallow, I wanted to catch my breath but I could never get enough air.
"Persistent little..." I looked behind me to see Sephiroth's piercing green eyes narrowed in anger. Even with the horrible feeling of steel stuck inside me, it gave me some pleasure to see his frustration. But his eyes shifted from me to the very surprised Aeris.
"Then there will be two more souls to add." Suddenly I felt the sword twist sideways. The adrenaline running through me allowed me to realize he was just going to slice me and Aeris in one hit. With so few options I grabbed onto what was protruding out my chest and held as tight as I could. The result was me being slammed into Aeris and knocking her into Cloud who was still standing there stunned.
"Accept your fate; all that is left is that I go north to the Promised Land! You'll become a part of the energy as will I." I looked back again only to spit blood in his face. I started to channel my magic.
"You'll never succeed," I coughed out. Talking was becoming hard and painful but I took another breath. "I know you won't...even I stopped you...from killing Aeris."
His only answer was to shove his sword farther into me, and the pain intensified. I could see a small puddle around my legs begin to build. I looked up and saw both Cloud and Aeris looking at me, frozen in fear. In that moment I decided to make one last move against Sephiroth.
"Go... to hell." I cast my strongest lightning spell through my gauntlets. Electricity surged and passed through me to him. Every last one of my nerves was shot as it felt like being hit by several lightning bolts. I felt my body start to shut down from the pain and shock. I felt Sephiroth pull his sword back out of me before I fell on the ground. I felt my eyes close even though I tried to force myself awake.
I felt my body slump down onto the ground. The pain soon started to rescind and my breaths were slowly getting lower and lower. My body started to feel lighter as time passed. It felt like minutes, but I didn't hear any large scale battling. In fact everything seemed quiet. Forcing myself, I opened my eyes to find myself still in the city, but no one was around. With what strength I had I pushed myself onto the wall to look around.
I heard footsteps on the stairwell. I bent to look over only to have a hand force me back accompanied by a laugh.
"Always stubborn when you're knocked down. Is it so hard to acknowledge you're weak?"
Aeris couldn't believe what she saw. She had been prepared for the worst of outcomes when she had decided to leave the group and help them. But nothing could have surprised her more than this. One of her friends had sacrificed themselves in her place, and looking at his still form, the sight made her stomach tighten in fear.
She knew she was going to die. Back at the temple she could feel Cloud had a connection to Sephiroth, but she didn't know how it worked. When she saw Cloud act as he did at the temple, it meant Sephiroth could have intervened whenever he wanted. He could manipulate Cloud and cause him to do horrible things. Sephiroth would have the upper hand always, literally being a step ahead. She didn't know how they could beat him until the spirits of the Ancients told her what her useless materia really was. It was the Black materia's counterpart, a defense if something sinister really did get its hands on the power of Meteor.
She had prepared herself essentially. She knew Sephiroth would attack her when she would leave, but told Cloud so she could see him and everyone else one last time. She made peace while she prayed, and when she saw Cloud overcome the manipulations of Sephiroth, she was happy. She felt Sephiroth's presence slowly approach her. She wanted to give Cloud one last smile before she was gone.
Then Nathan intervened. Aeris could sense much when the Ancient spirits helped her. Yet Nathan was a case that baffled her. He was human, yet not like everyone else. His spirit energy was so different compared to others. The Lifestream recycled souls but still kept the memories of those that had the soul originally. If she could visualize it, nearly everyone's soul had the distinct color of a lush green, much like the Lifestream. Those like Sephiroth were tainted with black, Nathan's would be grey; his soul would be blank, only used once, and had never been touched before.
Not being a natural part of the world, she couldn't sense him. When she was pushed out of the way, it shocked her. Now looking at his still form on the ground she could feel herself shaking.
"...Nathan?" She asked in a weak voice, the lack of movement was disturbing her.
"You killed him..." Cloud stated, shell shocked from the scene that played before him. Sephiroth looked down in indifference.
"He is now a part of the spiritual world. When I unite with the planet, so will he. His soul will help me ascend to my rightful place as-"
"He's dead!" Aeris shouted at him. She was willing to die for her friends. Yet he sacrificed himself and he was being dismissed. This was something she couldn't just ignore.
"No matter, he was a willing sacrifice. Just as you will be." Sephiroth pulled his sword back to attack Aeris.
"No!" When he tried to strike, Cloud brought his sword down to stop the blade and took another swing only for Sephiroth to jump back onto the ledge of the atrium.
"You killed one of my friends! He got angry, he got sad, he would be happy, and you brush it all off as if he never could make a difference! He had feelings like everyone else and you took them away! They cycle of nature and your stupid plan mean nothing!" Cloud was in a tirade. One friend was saved only for another to take their place; he never wanted anyone to die. Nathan never did anything to hurt anyone. He helped every last one of them, conversed on a regular basis. He never even had a true reason to help them. No vendetta, no mission, no personal gain, yet he fought alongside them every step of the way.
Sephiroth looked at Cloud with a bewildered look. "What are you saying? Are you telling me you have feelings too?"
"Of course! Who do you think I am?" He yelled back. Sephiroth just smiled and started laughing. His deep voice only served to make Cloud growl.
"Stop acting as if you're sad. There's no need for you to act angry either." Sephiroth jumped in the air and started to hover, his arms outstretched.
"Because, Cloud. You are..." The sentence never finished. Instead Sephiroth flew away and dropped something. Cloud's eyes widened when another deformed limb was dropped and rapidly grew. Cloud and Aeris jumped off the ledge. The flesh grew larger until it destroyed the atrium and turned into the same monster from the boat, only with deep crimson skin.
The team immediately responded and started attacking the large creature.
"What the fuck happened up there?" Cid yelled, readying his spear.
"Where's Aeris?" Cloud yelled. They went in separate directions. He looked around until he saw her in the water holding Nathan's body, a look of relief on her face.
"Cloud, he's alive, but just barely. We need to heal him now!" Cloud felt more relieved than anything that their friend was still alive. It was quickly knocked out of him when a blue flame from the Jenova creature caught his arm and he had to put it out.
Now was not the time to relax. They needed to kill this thing and help Nathan before he was too far gone.
"What the hell is going on?" Barret yelled firing his gun.
"Sephiroth nearly killed Nate." The various reactions from the group weren't surprising. "I'll tell you the rest later, we need to kill that thing." He charged and took a chunk of flesh with his sword. He was about to take another strike when a bright blue light filled his vision until it his head started to ache and burn. He jumped back, disoriented from the Blue Light attack.
"This one is different from last time." He said clutching his head. Tifa came and healed him while Red started casting.
"Earth!" The ground below Jenova opened up and allowed a part of the monster to fall in, then closed on it. Crushing a chunk of Jenova, causing it to scream out. Another flame was cast, but Red dodged and started for another earth spell.
"Take that you monster!" Yuffie threw her shuriken that was outfitted with her Elemental and Nate's fire materia. The metal made contact and caused flames to start slicing through as well as the blades. Jenova cast Blue Light for the entire group now causing everyone to feel the splitting pain and lack of sight.
"Are those the only tricks?" Cait asked. Then a large body of water suddenly formed around the group and crushed them. Everyone could barely breathe and the constant shifting of the water felt like a demi spell. The whole group fell to the ground and started hacking. The only one who seemed fairly okay was Cait, but the water still caused his joints to get crushed and damage the machine.
Tifa started casting buff spells and the group was about to attack again. Vincent started shooting along with Barret, but the bullets had little effect on the monster. It cast a blue flame at the two, causing them to separate. Cid and Red tried to attack only to be knocked back by a flame attack. Cait Sith attempted another shout but another Aqualung was aimed at the group. Almost everyone was hit and had the after effects of near drowning and sudden pressure changes. Cloud could just manage to stand up while Vincent came over.
"We can't let it attack like that again." Vincent said, still choking on some water.
"Then we keep attacking!" Yuffie recovered fast and got back up. She focused on the fire materia and started to cast when Cloud noticed a sheen on Jenova.
"Yuffie wait!" She cast the level three fire spell anyway. The giant ball flew at Jenova only to bounce harmlessly off and back at the group. Everyone dodged in different directions to avoid the brunt of the attack. But the splash damage caused Cloud and everyone else to receive horrible burns.
"How did it get more powerful?" Tifa said while healing Red and Barret. Cloud looked around to see everyone scatter when Jenova prepared another body of water. He knew the spell would only hit maybe two people, but he couldn't tell who until Jenova focused on its intended targets.
Aeris hunched over the recovering Nathan.
"Aeris, get away, quick!" She looked up when the spell surrounded the both of them. Aeris hadn't suffered from the attacks from Jenova considering her distance, but Nathan was already injured to an alarming degree. Attacking him now would only seal his fate. Cloud ran at the creature and impaled it. The spell was cut short but it still caused Aeris to hack and try to hold herself up on the ground. Cloud mustered as much strength as he could and jumped while his sword was still in Jenova.
He was able to make an eight foot slice in Jenova, until it finally started to pay attention to him. The Climhazzard technique helped.
"Someone help Aeris and Nate!" He yelled. Yuffie being the quickest ran over and started to help Aeris get Nate away. Vincent appeared next to Cloud.
"We need heavy attacks to take it down." Vincent got rid of his headband. Cloud knew what was happening and started to channel a blade beam attack.
"You guys prepare, I got this mass of shit under control." Cid had something in his hand before he used his ever present cigarette to light it. He threw it at Jenova and the explosion took out another chunk of flesh. It started casting furiously at him but Cait kept his sound wave attacks up to make the flames veer off. Vincent had changed into his Death Gigas and started charging itself when Cloud shot out his Blade Beam.
Jenova was sliced at a slant and was mostly hunched by now. The Death Gigas charged the monster and threw electric charged punches at Jenova. The creature finally stopped screaming in agony and started to dissolve back into the ground. Cloud finally allowed himself to relax. He couldn't believe how weak he felt. One of his friends was close to death and the rest were nearly killed themselves. He wondered how Sephiroth could be so far ahead of them, how he could always stay that way.
Because, you are a puppet. An unknown thought passed through his mind. But it made him question himself. He was a puppet? Was he really being controlled somehow? Was he a liability to the team?
"Cloud come look!" Yuffie yelled. He snapped out of it and ran over to Aeris and Nathan. What surprised him was that Nathan was now breathing better. It was still uneven and shallow, but he could see the rise and fall of his chest. He even noticed the wound he had was slightly smaller.
"How? That attack should have..." he stopped. His friend was alive now; there wasn't any reason to bring up his possible death.
"That water attack should have drowned him" Vincent pointed out.
"He has this...but where did he get it?" Aeris said holding onto a ring. Upon closer inspection he saw that it was a water ring, specifically meant to counter water spells and he had it on at the perfect time. Cloud saw this as a godsend. Jenova had inadvertently helped Nathan recover. He wouldn't ignore the opportunity.
"Thank the Planet. We need to leave and get back to Bone Village and watch over him. I'll explain to everyone what happened but we need to hurry." Nathan was healed but he still needed proper care. Barret came over and picked him up. The group left with everyone alive. Cloud noticed Aeris and Yuffie try to keep an eye on Nathan, but that was to be expected. He had played a very dangerous game that nearly killed him, but saved someone else.
Cloud knew Nate deserved his respect.
"I'm surprised you're not using me to run rampant again." I spat. My white eyed counterpart just kept his wicked smile.
"My body needs rest. Your stunt only hampered what progress I would need so keeping you here was the most logical option." He said in a matter of fact tone.
"I won't let you take me over again."
"You're here now, granted I commend you for keeping me out for...what was it? A few weeks. You have will power. A useless trait, but none the less recognizable." His words didn't seem condescending but had no flattery to them what so ever.
"But that isn't why you're here. I have a proposition you will find invaluable considering the circumstances."
"I would never make a deal with myself. The sound of that is insane as it is, let alone the fact you're actually-" I was cut off when he pulled out his Fusion and made a gash across my face. The cut wasn't too deep but somehow I could feel blood start to drip. The pain was very real. He lost the smile and glared at me with his empty eyes.
"I can cut you. Every time you lose yourself and I bring you back I gain more control. The more control I have, the closer I can get to slitting that throat of yours. I am so close to killing you in here and taking over. Now you will listen." Pulled his sword back and knelt down.
"I have seen you alter not one, but four deaths that were guaranteed in this world. Your interference in key points has allowed you to gain trust and power people from Earth would kill for. Now you have two options. My offer is that when I take over, and I assure you I will; I will allow you to keep some semblance of your conscience inside so you can feel and see everything that happens." I stared to scowl. The monster was pretentious and immoral, but being sent here injured made it so I couldn't do much but sit and listen.
"The second?" I asked.
"I torture you throughout my time as I control you. Then when I finally tire of you I will obliterate your conscience in the most painful manner possible."
"How do you think you will become god instead of Sephiroth? No one would let you get the chance. I'm still weak compared to the others besides magic. One silence spell and you're done." The only response I got was a very toothy smile.
"I am you... and you are me. I represent your shattered mindset, rage, anger, hate, power hungry, and sadistic. But I still have your memories, every technique you have wasted memorizing from games and shows I know. I know how you act. It would be easy to imitate you. Then when the chance arises…" He held out his arms and spun. When I got a look at his face I saw normal eyes and a sudden voice change. The malice and disdain was gone.
"Sephiroth will be dead and I will take his place as god. Becoming the envoy of death that will destroy everything. I may even find a way back home just to kill everyone there too, maybe even other worlds." I saw the evil smile on my face now rise on him.
"And I, Nathan River, will find true joy and pleasure... in the screams of terror, the pleas for mercy being ignored, and the delicious smells of raw death filling every corner of every world, universe, even dimensions I so choose. And when everything that had been possibly conserved is turned to nothing but ash, I will create life...just to do it all over again." His face reverted back and he started to laugh insanely. I couldn't describe the fear inside myself. I knew he had planned to kill everything... but saying it all with my face and voice triggered something in me. I felt true fear.
"In fact...I'll keep your mind for the first moments. So that you will see me torture and maim every. One. Of. Your. Friends." He pulled me up by my throat.
"And I will take the most pleasure from this plan...when I make you kill Yuffie...and make you laugh and smile while you do it." I couldn't move. Somehow he could describe in such clarity I could picture everything. I couldn't breathe; the entire atmosphere was like being surrounded by monstrous intent.
"It seems it's time for you to leave. A pity, your pain is the greatest joy for me." He dropped me and started to walk off.
"The next time we meet...it will be your end. Enjoy every moment." I felt myself start to black out. I had never felt so glad for myself to fall unconscious.
ATE
"They are stronger than before. They took another arm even after all of this time." Sephiroth had been resting with Jenova in a snowy field. His mother was angry again, the puppet and his friends seemed to cause her so many problems as of late.
"Cloud will follow me still mother. Once he delivers the Black Materia, he will lose his worth." He looked down; his ever present frown deeper than usual.
"I couldn't kill the girl mother. I am sorry." He felt her presence lighten. She always spoke to him softly but he could still be scolded by the most subtle of words. He never wanted to disappoint mother.
"It is not your fault. The pest interfered. You will gain another opportunity." Jenova hissed. As of late, the human she was interested in was always called the pest much as Cloud was the puppet.
"You don't wish for his abilities?" Sephiroth couldn't have cared less if the boy joined or not. He admitted from Cloud's eyes the boy showed exceptional magic capabilities. It reminded him of one of his old friends, Genesis. If Jenova had taken him, he may have even surpassed the dead SOLDIER.
"Your strength is more than enough. Seeing the weakling nearly die by your hands proved he will never meet my expectations. In fact, kill him along with the girl. His interference was disturbingly well placed. I couldn't sense him until you struck."
"As you wish, mother." Sephiroth was agitated when he found that the boy lived through Cloud's memories. He must admit the pest's preparedness against mother was very strategic.
"Now come my son. We must get you to your true body. You will soon achieve the power you deserve." Sephiroth nodded and started walking with his mother. Soon their plan would come to fruition. He and his mother would finally gain what they deserved. The Planet's power would soon ascend to them, then everyone would pay.