The hot wind was harsh against Shelke's face as she ran towards death, a distant spot at the edge of her view. It was impossible to make out the finer details due to the heat haze from the discharge of energy produced by the incandescent beams. However, given they scorched the ground and the bloom of heat alone was hot enough to leave the air capable of causing third-degree burns with every near miss, she could easily guess that temperature there must've been beyond the limits of what a normal person could hope to withstand without their lungs being burned inside out.
But she wasn't a normal person. SOLDIERs were stronger and faster and more resilient to everything as a result of their genetic reinforcement and the Mako infusion, including temperature extremes. Deepground agents were above even them as a result of harsher procedures that were best kept out of the light of day. So, she was confident her body could handle the temperature just fine so long as she didn't take a direct hit.
The only problem was the fact that without a strong circulation system passing Mako through her body, she was operating on borrowed time. Unlike normal Deepground agents, she required daily infusions Mako since she hadn't even entered puberty when she had been forced through the procedure. An immature body was never meant to go through such a thing in the first place, so consequently she was flawed from the start and couldn't go more than a few hours without fresh Mako.
Even a few hours is too generous considering the enemy, she realized as she drew closer and avoided another condensed beam of heat, intentionally keeping her speed at a reasonable degree in order to keep its attention on her. Against an enemy of this caliber she would likely have to push past her natural limits.
Every Tsviet could—Rosso's blood form, Azul's beast form, and so on. By drawing on the Mako accumulated within their bodies they could exhibit even greater combat potential. But it was taxing enough that in the aftermath their combat ability dropped, making it easier to wear out their inherent durability.
For Shelke it was life-threatening. Her body couldn't hold great quantities of accumulated Mako to begin with and her organs were heavily dependent on it. Even if she had her previous suit's life-support system to prevent her outright death, her body would suffer excruciating pain going that far. Not to mention her defenses were reduced enough that receiving a single shot from a high-caliber weapon was enough to bring her down.
For those reasons, thirty-minutes was the best she could hope for once she pushed her body into overdrive. A day's time compressed as much as possible for maximum efficiency. But she would die once those thirty minutes were up, no question about it.
'From this moment on, you are a warrior. Remember that Death walks alongside all warriors on the battlefield and will come for them eventually. Do not dread or run from it when the time comes, but instead welcome it alongside your killer with a warrior's pride.'
She recalled the words that Argento had told her the moment she gave her the EM Sabers. These weapons were custom-made for her and the only thing she had received that wasn't mandated by her superiors, as she was never meant to be fielded in the first place. Something that was gifted to her upon joining the ranks of the Tsviets.
Argento had shown Shelke comradery that was lacking in Deepground. It was such a small, inconsequential thing from a logical perspective. Irrational given that she hated Shinra and Deepground itself for what they had done to her. But she still appreciated the gesture enough that she decided to take the words of the dead to heart as the enemy came into view.
The abomination was a mesh of crimson and black meat that looked sleek in the simmering heat surrounding it. A cancerous blight that sprung up from the blackened earth with a wide base that writhed sinuously, jutting up like a sporophyte that germinated into a stalk with a glowing orb that acted as its sensory organ present. Branching out from there to the left was a stunted club of meat, and on the right was an appendage that almost resembled talons.
A low, groaning sound emerged from the creature as it spotted her approaching. Beads of radiant heat gathered in front of its luminous eye that shone like a dying star. Then the air popped from the feedback as they coalesced and erupted into an iridescent torrent meant to incinerate her body.
The beam shot forth, only for Shelke to vanish within its glow as a portion of its flesh at the base was melted through. For a thing of its size and composition, it may as well have been a papercut. But pain was a foreign sensation that the Jenova Spawn immediately tried to remedy as its flesh cast off the burned tissue and replaced it anew, only for another set of stings to wrack the flesh of its tail along the backside.
This time something had cut into the flesh of its skin while accompanied by a sound that was as soft as mosquito noise. It began to patch the wound and was nearly done when another gouge formed, appearing along the front and beneath its point of view. It didn't even start fixing that one before another formed a little higher along the left side.
And then another. And another. Another. Until finally the sensation of true pain assaulted it as a section of flesh was sliced out in a perfect wedge, leaving a cauterized portion of blackened tissue behind. It let loose a wet, retching noise in confusion until it managed to spot an orange glow in the distance.
The spawn lashed out by launching a beam of pure heat in the direction it had spotted the fleeting trails of light. The red glow joined with the ashen light of the trees being scorched by proximity to illuminate the darkness. Yet not a moment later another wedge was torn out and accompanied by a soft, pained sound that reached the sensory appendages that allowed it to perceive the outside world in passing.
Next it released a high-pitched telepathic disruption, meant to Silence lesser minds from using magic to attack it. Yet, another section of flesh was torn and burned, taken from the whole and leaving pain in its place that would persist until it was filled in. It lashed out once more by drawing a wall of flame to gain time to heal, but the flames were parted as Shelke's preternatural speed allowed her to close the distance and gouge out what served as its eye in a single slash.
Its regeneration is faster than I expected. That fact rolled around her mind as pained and ragged breaths left her mouth, drowned out by the shriek of the Jenova Spawn. The density of the enemy and the need to drive the blades in deeper to tear out sections of its flesh slowed her down as she struck, but that was still beyond its ability to react. The moment she hit the ground, she pushed her body into overdrive once more and became as good as invisible within the sweltering space. I don't think my body will hold up longer than its own will at this rate.
To say that she was in pain was an understatement. The price of reaching her peak speed was an immense strain on her small frame, to the extent that her arms and legs themselves were screaming in agony with every movement. The threat of her bones snapping and muscles tearing were an ever-present risk, but as long as she could keep moving she would keep attacking.
Biting down on the pain as she actively metabolized the Mako within her body at an accelerated rate that ensured self-destruction, Shelke killed off any unnecessary thoughts and submitted herself to her death drive. Moving at speeds that made her small and lithe figure disappear until she attacked, she carved out another section of its base. Even if it could heal, she could just take it to pieces to until the spawn reached its limits and its biomass ran out.
But the spawn was quick to adapt. Its fanning appendage that were like spread fingers had what appeared to be small stars dancing at the tips. Deprived of one means of using its primary attack, it converted the appendage into a rudimentary replacement and released a spray of scorching red bolts to pepper the battlefield in its blinded state.
Each digit released bolts in a random pattern, layering the space between them with cover fire. With her elongated perspective of time, due to her accelerated state of mind, she could process that dodging them all was impossible. But she already knew that she could ward them off using her EM Sabers. The containment field that kept the energy contained in the form of the blades could also interface with other forms of energy—heat included.
She swung her sabers around and batted aside the first salvo that reached her, redirecting them into another set. The clashing bolts shattered into one another and left shimmering motes that fell like snow as she closed in. Bringing the twin energy blades around as she somersaulted midstride, Shelke severed and cauterized two of the digits to hamper the abomination further. Then, when she hit the ground behind it and came out in a roll, she spun on her feet and darted off to the side.
It was just in time to avoid a Red Light that was fired from the tip of its tail. Another adaptation. The scorching beam left a trench of superheated earth that cracked and bubbled as it twisted its torso as only a boneless mass could until Shelke managed to slice off the three digits that continued to spew the bolts of heat.
That was when a gale of scorching-hot wind blasted her from behind with enough force that it swept her small body up like debris. Her flesh began to feel the agony of first-degree burns until she hit the ground and her ankle twisted. The cry of pain from her body being battered as it tumbled amidst the blackened sand, the coarse grains scraping against her pink flesh, was raw and unbidden. "AHHHH!"
Shelke's entire body was wracked with pain inside and out by the time she rolled to a stop. Her ankle being twisted meant she couldn't run anymore. She'd failed, and now she could only look up towards the growing glare of another Red Light as the spawn let loose the spearing beam before she could escape—
"LORD LEVIATHAN, NOW!"
—only for her to be swept up once more as something pulled her out of the line of fire, the beam hammering where she had been and leaving only a molten pool in its wake. The momentary pain of her body being slammed into the ground with another body was pressed further as the one responsible held to her down. Then there was a rush of water as a massive presence sailed overhead, fat droplets cascading down over the baked sand that had once been parched earth.
The ancient summoning that reigned over the seas slithered forth with its elongated body, churning grey waters wrapping Leviathan in a tight spiral as it rushed for the Jenova Spawn that released another Tropic Wind. The hot gale met with the rushing surge. Heat and cold gave birth to an expansive fog that spread out as the two attacks clashed.
But Leviathan still managed to bring its massive form to bear against the cancerous mass of alien flesh with unhindered momentum. It managed to knock the spawn to the ground hard enough create a crater. Then the summoning broke free of the battlefield blanketed in a muggy, grey veil that obscured their vision and hung high in the air.
A crimson glow lit up the steam. A streaking ray of searing heat was fired towards the massive sea creature that was swimming in the air in a sinuous manner, making itself too obvious of a target. It narrowly avoided the initial shot, but that only spurred the Jenova Spawn to keep firing.
While that was happening, Yuffie pulled out an elixir and shoved it into Shelke's mouth to make her drink it. Her flesh healed, bone mended, and mind cleared. It did nothing to stop the pain tearing her apart on the inside, but it lessened the external pain as her enhanced hearing picked up on sound of hastened Chocobo footfalls through the mist. The others were rushing towards the temple, the thinning fog providing just enough cover for them to escape as the massive summoning distracted the spawn.
But it wasn't enough.
A shriek erupted from the ancient summoning's cavernous maw as several beams seared through its elongated body. Fins were melted off, the underbelly pierced, and a long gouge ripped through its form. Once the final volley finished off Leviathan, breaking its body apart until it vanished into deep-blue motes of light, the spawn's torso twisted in the direction the others were running.
"LEAVE THEM ALONE!" Yuffie shouted as she flung the origami shuriken. It drew a cross in the air as it cut through the appendage the abomination was using to attack them with. Alien fluids splashed over the parched earth as the spawn was blinded once more.
Shelke knew it wouldn't be enough, given she had done the same before. Even with the distance between the Ancient and the spawn growing more expansive, the burning wind that had taken her down would still be enough to burn them to the muscle if they were caught in it unprotected. She couldn't let that happen and decided to resort to the only other thing she had in her arsenal that could stop it.
Clutching the Summoning Materia, a jolt ran through her mind and whited her vision at the same time the Tropic Wind was unleashed. The onrushing gale that carried death sped towards the others as the riders clung to their racing mount, which was desperately putting as much distance as possible into each step to avoid being overtaken. Then the winds were abruptly drawn upwards along with the sand, ash, and loose coral around them as a monstrous laugher filled the air.
Typhon's beady golden eyes were upturned in joy as it finished swallowing the Tropic Wind into its pudgy body and gazed down at the Jenova Spawn, its maw spread wide to reveal rows of shark-like teeth on the top and pointed bottom in a rictus grin. The newly arrived summoning then laughed once more before it snorted out everything that it had taken in. The air laced with magic churned into a violent squall that quickly enclosed upon the Jenova Spawn and escalated into a raging windstorm.
"Ngh…" Shelke struggled to maintain her focus on the summoning, leaving her unable to do more than anchor herself against the nearest tree that was charred black as the winds grew even more turbulent. Eventually the charred bark crumbled into dust and she was drawn off her feet, only spared from the twister that formed by tense fingers wrapping around her wrist to keep her from being swept away.
The kunoichi's expression was strained as she clung to a shelf of coral that was protruding from the ground. She managed to put strength into her arms and, with a shout of exertion, pulled Shelke down until they were both beneath the shelf. Then she triggered the Shield Materia to encase them within a protective shell as Typhon revealed its second head and everything that had been taken into the air was sent plummeting down.
The protective dome came under assault as everything on the outside vanished beneath a veil of dirt, debris, shrapnel, and sand as the sky fell. If Yuffie's concentration wavered for even a moment, the barrier would crack and then they'd be crushed. It couldn't have lasted for more than a few seconds, but it felt much longer to those trapped inside until the rain of debris ceased, the shaking stopped, and the winds died down.
A heavy breath of relief left Yuffie's mouth as she lowered the barrier, exposing them to the dusty air. The pristine darkness that was padded out by the soft light of the luminous trees and coral had been left a ruined mess. The elegance replaced by a haphazard scattering of everything that hadn't been nailed down.
"That was dangerous," she said, the irritation in her voice carrying through well enough that the former Tsviet could pick up on it. "We could have been buried alive."
"There is no meaning in holding anything back when your death is—" Shelke's words faltered the moment a pulsation ran throughout her body like a thunderous heartbeat. She hunched over in pain, the EM Sabers falling from her grasp as she felt her body underwent its graceful degradation. All the damage that was mitigated due to her enhancements drained what little excess hadn't been used from her tiny reserves. Thirty minutes was too optimistic after all.
"We should go see if Aerith is awake now," Yuffie said, catching her before she could fall. The irritation in her voice was gone, replaced by a serious undercurrent. "She might be able to fix whatever is wrong with you, or at least buy some time for someone to come and take us back."
"If that was within her capabilities, she would have done so already." Shelke's soft tone flirted between wistfulness and resignation even as the pain continued. "Soon my organs will cease functioning one after another, until my heart stops and my brain starves itself of oxygen. I'm finished."
"We don't know that!" The kunoichi hoisted Shelke onto her back and started to run towards the direction of the temple. "If there's anyone who can do something, it's her! Don't just give up because it seems hopeless!"
Her naivety speaks of her immaturity, Shelke thought silently, accepting her fate. She knew what would happen, so she didn't feel the need to argue about the inevitable. Instead, she turned her head back towards the gifts she received from Argento in one of the few acts of kindness in her life after being taken…
And her blood froze upon realizing that she herself had been naïve.
Even after being caught within the downpour of Typhon's attack. Even with every bit of its mass battered to the point that she could see chunks torn out where it had been scraped raw and punched through by the rain of debris. Even with alien fluids leaking from the gaping holes that were slow to close as it slouched over.
The Jenova Spawn was still alive.
And it was coming after them.
[-oOo-]
Aerith's head was pounding.
As she slowly gained awareness, she felt a throbbing ache permeating every inch of her mind. Her thoughts themselves felt fragmented. Like an immense pressure had been placed on her psyche and threatened to shatter it like glasswork from the sheer weight.
What was I doing? She struggled to recall what happened. She remembered being in the home of one of her ancestors with her friends. Talking. Safe. Then…
Panic ran through her when she recalled Jenova's main body attacked them. The brunt of the psychic assault had hit her, threatening to destroy who she was while the attack would have wiped them off the face of the Planet. She shot upright, her heart in a vice when she considered how long she must've been out, only for a tight grip to hold her in place.
"Easy, Kupo!" a small voice said. Familiar. "We don't want to fall off here of all places, Kupo."
"You're awake now?" a feminine voice said, accompanied by the scent of ozone.
Aeirth opened her eyes to see that she was on the back of the summoning's mount, nestled against Crimson while she tried to keep them balanced as they descended what looked to be winding set of glass stairs. Above them water rippled as sunlight that was absent elsewhere came shining down over the underwater altar that was surrounded by structured crystals. They had passed the boundary between the outside world and the inner world, much like with the Temple of Ancients.
"Thank goodness you've woken," Cait Sith spoke. "We were worried you wouldn't."
She slowly sat upright, expecting to see the others following behind them on the narrow stairway that acted as a bridge between worlds through ancient magic. But the others were nowhere to be found. "Where is everyone?"
"Buying us time," Crimson said, short and to the point as their descent continued. "A swarm of monsters came down after us and we had to split up in order to get you here. Then that new Jenova Spawn attacked, and we split further. It's just us and Cait Sith."
Aerith wanted to go back. They shouldn't be left to die for this when it was her mission. But she knew that she couldn't. If they did, then Cloud and the others would likely be slain and Sephiroth wouldn't be stopped.
Her heart remained heavy as they reached the central altar and Mog's mount lowered itself so that they could get down. She noticed that its feather were violently ruffled and covered in dirt and twigs before they vanished as the summoning was ended. Crimson looked worn down as well, tired. It seemed like it had been a rough trip for her as well—mentally and physically.
"I'll get started right away," Aerith said, extending her hand outwards. All of her friends struggled to get her to this place for the sake of the world. She had to follow through with it no matter what.
The Princess Guard found its way into her grip by magic before she tapped the end of the staff against the ground. The Huge Materias and Goddess Materia reacted, floating out of their container and arranging themselves on a platform in the center of the water. The Black Materia and White Materia joined them in orbiting the Goddess Materia in the middle, while the three crystals formed a triangle around the perimeter of the altar.
"Will it work with only three of the four Huge Materia?" Crimson asked. "I know we needed one to kill off Jenova's main body, but if all four were necessary then we might need something else to compensate for it."
"It'll be fine," Aerith said, making her way up to the central platform. "In the first place, we were going to unmake them for the condensed Mako they possessed and use them as fuel for summoning Minerva. It's not that different than what I did with Bahamut, expanding his power by using the condensed Mako to elevate him. The only difference is that her presence is simply so large that without drawing upon the Lifestream manifesting her will be too much without an external source. Losing one of the Huge Materia means that it'll be harder, but I'll make sure to do it for everyone's sake."
The moment she reached the platform that was suspended over what appeared to be a small lake that was deep and pure, she felt the interplay of the different materia upon her presence—destruction and salvation, condensed and overflowing. This place was the origin of these materia and the ascension of Minerva, a place meant for their use.
Genesis was right, she admitted to herself as she reached out to the large Summoning Materia, the vessel which housed the Goddess. On an instinctive-level she knew that if it was done through this method the summoning of Minerva was entirely possible. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and focused on the materia until her consciousness sank into it.
Aerith felt as though she was being plunged into a deep, warm ocean. The gentle pressure on all sides stirred her astral form's eyes into opening, the sensation familiar to when she'd entered the depths of the Lifestream through meditation. She spied the bundle of neon-green light in front of her and recognized it for what it was. "Minerva."
The shapeless began to take shape in response, an appearance that was much different from the woman who Aerith had seen in the Well of Knowledge. Her plain white dress was replaced with contrasting gold armor that seemed almost regal, adorned with intricate designs. Sun-kissed hair fell long as they framed her face, cradled by a tiara instead of a simple band. But her pale, emerald eyes that fixed onto Aerith were the same.
Connected as they were, Minerva answered the unasked question through words not spoken, touching her mind. 'Summonings are shaped not merely by who they were in life, but by their tales and memories. Even I am not immutable to this fact, and few would ever believe that one referred to as a goddess was a simple girl who prayed desperately for the world and her family to survive.'
"I suppose we're the same in that regard," Aerith couldn't help but say. Knowledge of her ancestors and natural gifts aside, she was just someone trying to do what was best for the Planet and for the people who would inherit it.
A gentle smile crossed the Goddess's face. 'You're much stronger than I was. If I had been opposed every step of the way, I don't think I would have been able to make it to this point.'
"I wouldn't have if it wasn't for the others." Her head fell. It hurt for her to say that because she wasn't even sure if they were alive with how long she had been out, even after she begged them not to die for her sake like Zack and Kunsel. "From Midgar to this place, they all fought to bring me here even as it cost them so much time and time again."
'Indeed. Your champions are formidable. They still fight, even now." Aerith's head snapped up at that. 'Here in the water altar, we are connected to this Planet deeper than most. If you wish to see what lays on the surface, you need only to reach out above as you would below.'
She took the advice to heart, extending her consciousness outwards…
And then she could see the burning trees and broken coral as Yuffie clamored over them with the dying Tsviet on her back. Mist danced off her frame as she used an Ice Materia to keep the air around her cold and condensed, the only way to avoid the sweltering heat that would make her body give out from a heatstroke. A Remedy spell was interwoven with it, the only thing keeping her from being Silenced and helpless. Running herself ragged over the treacherous, uneven grounds, she narrowly avoided the glare of a brilliant, crimson beam that scorched the very air in desperation.
Beyond the woods the three warriors had worn themselves ragged. As Cid's arms strained, one hand keeping him atop his mount as the other plunged his polearm into the neck of a flying Shadow Creeper, another monster drew closer and attempted to clamp down on his neck from behind. Only the sudden drop of Phoenix stopped him from being killed, his nerves and alertness stretched thin by his effort, clothing and flesh torn from similar close-calls as the skies he called his own were invaded constantly.
Titan and Ifrit rampaged below. Heated claws slicing, massive fists pounding, hellfire scorching, and stone chunks crushing the darkness that wouldn't stop. Even after the magic holding their bodies fell apart from being swarmed by claws and teeth, they still struggled to take down those they could.
Once they were gone, the leonine warrior that sported battered and bruised flesh roared with a harsh light that called the stars down from the sky. Rays of light rained down, piercing through the stygian bodies of the monsters above and below. Barret, a gunman who had run out of ammo and was resorting to the raw power of the materia socketed into his arm, released a massive ball of flames that exploded on contact.
Yet the monsters still kept coming. It seemed like their numbers would never end, a prelude to the fate of the world that was barely being held back by the three men still fighting. Even as their weapons broke, their minds dulled, and their bodies ached and cried out, they kept fighting—and would until they were overrun entirely.
"Help them," Aerith begged.
The Goddess only shook her head slowly. 'It will take all of my strength to break through the defenses of Jenova's scion. I cannot offer them succor in my present state, isolated from the Lifestream.'
"…There is one way," Aerith said after some thought, determination lacing her voice. The knowledge she inherited told her how it was possible. And the price was one that was willing to pay if it meant they would live. "I'll entrust this world's future to them."
Minerva's expression grew gentle in understanding. The sacrifice of self was one she understood well. That which birthed one miracle before would birth another, once more for the future of the world and all those who lived on it. 'Then let us offer them a path to it.'
The Goddess extended her hand as the means to initiate the summoning.
Aerith took it without hesitation for the sake of her loved ones.
[-oOo-]
A brilliant flash of light stung Crimson's eyes, leaving her to reflexively shield them with her arms a moment after Aerith laid her hands on the Goddess Materia.
The wind began to stir, whirling and howling as the three Huge Materia broke apart into streamers of viridian energy that spiraled around her. The forming maelstrom picked up speed, the luminous ribbons weaving around the last of the Cetra until her entire form was shrouded in the magic. Then, with a final backdraft, the former Turk felt an immense presence.
It felt sacred, clean and pure as it washed over her body. She dared to lower her arms at a sound of amazement that came from the doll nestled on her shoulder. And thus she bore witness to the Goddess Incarnate.
The immaculate goddess was draped in gold and white. The Princess Guard had been transformed into an intricate spear in her right hand, while the left sported a massive shield that was large enough to cover an entire person. On her back was a halo that sported six angelic wings, a wheel responsible for circulating the energy born from the sacrifice of the Huge Materias.
Fully materialized, Minerva wasted no time in acting. Releasing her hold on her spear and shield, they flew from her grasp and into the sky to join with the pauldrons, halo, and other excessive bits of armor. Together they assembled what looked to be some kind of mechanized crossbow that was pointed skywards. The Goddess then grabbed hold of the White and Black Materia that orbited around her.
Crimson watched as the Black Materia dissipated right before her eyes. The vessel that embodied the ultimate destructive magic broke down and flowed into the six-winged wheel. The white feathers were dyed jet-black, imbued with the destructive potential of that which once threatened to bring an end to the world.
As for the White Materia, Minerva cupped it within her palms and brought it to her chest. With her head bowed and her eyes closed, it almost seemed as if she was offering a prayer in silence and received an answer as the materia began radiating a soft light that pulsated. She then pressed the radiance into the spear, leaving the entire thing to become a vessel of light that embodied the hope that once saved the world.
They formed the Judgement Arrow—a combination of the concept of the ultimate Black Magic and the hope that embodied the ultimate White Magic. It would journey to the skies with the speed of a shooting star and come crashing down upon the that which threatened the Planet.
A fierce light akin to the Limit Break encompassed the altar as the Goddess drew the spear backwards, leaving the golden limbs to fold and compensate as if connected. The halo began to spin faster and faster, becoming the driving force which would send the shot towards its destination. The moment she let it loose, the arrow rocketed above as a streak of light while a fierce gale whipped at those on the ground—
I'll… leave this world… to all of you…
—and something delicately, infinitely warm took root deep inside of Crimson when the soft words touched her mind as the wind died down. It was without a doubt Aerith's voice. A lump formed in Crimson throat when it was followed by a splintering sound that reached her ears. She then witnessed the Goddess Materia breaking apart and taking with it the magic holding together Minerva's battle-form.
The white cloth and golden armor vanished into sparkles of light, leaving only Aerith behind with her staff in hand. But there was something off about her. Crimson couldn't put her fingers on it, but it felt like she was staring at a ghost as Aerith stood there in silence. Like a phantom lingering amidst the fleeting light that slowly drifted to the surface…
Then air around Aerith's body began to waver. Ethereal, pale-viridian streamers of light began dancing off her skin, slowly starting to pull away and rise to the surface. Just like when she'd returned Kunsel's body to the Planet.
Crimson ran towards her, heart pounding in her chest. The weariness from the ride and tension from the battles, all of it vanished as she ran towards the altar in desperation to stop what she felt had already transpired. Yet, as she reached out to grab the slender form that was dissipating into countless wisps of light, Crimson could swear the phantom turned to her and gave a small, apologetic smile.
Then the only things left behind were her Ribbon and Princess Guard.
Aerith… was gone.