Remembrance

by Shikaku Zetsumei

Vincent awakes to find that everything he experienced was nothing but a dream. Though he vows to change the future, he is left wondering if his interference will fix anything or simply make things worse. (Story Completely Revamped June 2017) Chapter 22 up.

19. Divine Interference

A/N: I expected this lull before the endgame. Hopefully, I'm making good use of it. This chapter was very difficult to write.

Note (8-17-19): Thank you to everyone who's been patiently waiting for this to continue. There aren't many of you, but you are appreciated. Since my last update (over a year ago), I finished my PhD, started postdoctoral work, and submitted an original work for an editorial assessment. I learned a lot about what my writing was lacking. I edited that work for about seven months and submitted it for consideration for publishing (and subsequently got a standard rejection). I'll be working on additional submissions but, in the meantime, back to Remembrance.

Final Fantasy VII – Remembrance

Chapter 19 – Divine Interference

The apartment Vincent's team had taken was somewhat spacious. Once upon a time, it housed three adults – a couple and the father's mother – and a child. Both mother and father worked to afford this small apartment in Upper Midgar. In the end, they had made things work with two bedrooms, with the child rooming with his grandmother. While he and Tifa got settled in, Cait Sith confirmed that the family had left Midgar. They had fled before soldiers started restricting transport out of the upper city. This meant that there was no risk of the family returning while they hid from the soldiers. It gave everyone room to relax after the harrowing mission of the previous day. As they were debating keeping watch, Cait Sith had pointed out that he did not need sleep whatsoever. It would allow the two humans to rest while he scanned the vicinity for intruders.

The plan was a good one in theory. Both Vincent and Tifa had looked forward to sleeping soundly through the night. But reality found Cait Sith shaking Vincent awake close to midnight. Surprised, he had promptly put his new prosthetic through the stuffed mog. Blinking awake, he found himself elbow-deep in cotton and metal rebar. On the mog's head, Cait Sith gaped at the brutal response.

"H-hey there, buddy…"

Vincent blinked a few more times before retracting his arm. He stared at the hole he made and flexed his new hand a few more times.

"What is it?" He asked in a terse whisper.

For a moment, there was no response. Cait Sith looked hesitant to speak for fear of being attacked again. But then he shook his head and adopted a serious expression.

"We might need to leave," he said. "Soldiers have been searching the streets for a while and a group entered the building about two minutes ago."

With a soft sigh, Vincent sat up. Rubbing his face, he got to his feet and looked around. The moonlight peeked in through the thin curtains, but otherwise, the room was dark. Through the window, he could still hear the muffled sounds of emergency vehicles as they drove through the Sector. No doubt the blast zone would remain a hotbed of activity for the foreseeable future. But other than those faint sounds, their immediate vicinity was quiet. He crept out of the bedroom and into the small living room. Stopping near the kitchen, he concentrated again. The only noise that he could pick up was the soft hum of electricity coursing through Cait Sith.

"Are you sure?"

Cait Sith nodded.

"I've been keeping tabs on this little group of scouts. They've been checking each building for unknown persons for a few hours now. They survey each floor of a building before checking certain rooms with a scanner. I'm guessing they have a list of who's supposed to be there and who isn't. They'll be here soon."

"You changed the records, right?" Vincent asked.

"Yes, but…"

His hands fidgeted nervously for a moment.

"What if they suspect the records?" He asked. "AVALANCHE has always been well-known for their hacking… and it's not like anyone else is active during this crisis. Depending on how cautious they are, they might find something wrong. All it would take is an older version of the housing records as a physical file…"

He trailed off. Vincent thought for a bit. Tifa was still asleep in the other room and he preferred to keep it that way.

"Until we know for sure, I'm willing to take that bet," he said. "Let's see if we can do a bit more surveillance on them."

He began to creep toward the door before a paw stopped him.

"They're definitely using infrared sensors. It'll look weird if you're huddled by the door."

Vincent grimaced but nodded. He moved over to a small, two-seater couch in the living room and laid down.

"Keep an eye on them then. I'm counting on you."

Cait Sith nodded and crouched nearby. The whirring of gears lessened as the light in his eyes dimmed. Vincent followed suit and slowed his own breathing. Soon enough, he heard the muffled sound of slow footfalls. Three or four heavy people carefully made their way up the stairs to their floor. He was sure Cait Sith caught the sound as well. It was only through his sharpened hearing that he could hear the low voices outside.

"Only two on this floor?" One muffled voice asked. "This is such a waste of time. Every building's been the same so far, captain."

"I know, but orders are orders. You know what those terrorists did."

"Hmph. If the higher-ups really wanted us to find something, they wouldn't have given us these outta-date pieces of shit to work with."

"Old, but reliable…" the captain replied, though the words sounded hollow.

There was a sudden increase in whirring from Cait Sith. The cat poked his head over the side of the couch.

"Ooh," he whispered. "I got an idea!"

Vincent opened one eye to peek at Cait Sith.

"Don't do anything stupid," he replied.

"Trust me!"

Vincent closed his eyes again and focused. The soldiers outside continued in low voices as they went about their mission.

"Look, we're wasting time arguing. Yes, these things suck. Let's just get this over with. You know as well as I do there's no one around, just like the last twenty buildings we've scouted," the captain said.

"At least we're not over in the west side of the Sector. I heard those bastards have to deal with full apartment buildings."

"Shit, really? What the hell are so many people still doing in this place? Do they not see Meteor looming overhead?"

"No idea. Just be glad you're not them. Four-oh-two should have one resident. Run the scans."

"Scanning."

There was a moment of silence. Then, Vincent heard a muffled thump, like someone hitting a piece of equipment.

"Dammit. Screen is on the fritz again. But everything is clear."

"Run it again just to be sure."

"But – "

"Better safe than sorry."

"Fine, fine…"

There was another pause.

"Confirmed. Infrared shows one person in the bedroom. No other occupants."

"Good. Let's finish this floor then. Two in four-fifteen. Young couple."

"One sec, Cap."

"What is it, Davis?"

"Screen flickered off again. No, wait, it was just faint."

"When were these made again?" Another voice asked.

"Never mind that," the captain said. "Let's go."

The footsteps came down the hallway. Vincent did his best to keep his breathing steady.

"Scanner's working for the moment. Infrared shows two humans in the room: one female in the bedroom and one male on the couch."

"Another partial match," the captain mused.

Vincent tensed, ready to spring into action if he needed.

"It's the same partial match we've seen at least thirty times, Cap," someone said in a weary voice.

"Records indicate they're a young couple," the one called Davis said. "Poor bastard. Meteor happens only weeks after his marriage?"

"Look at him. On the couch now because they're too poor to go elsewhere."

The captain let out a sigh.

"Let's keep moving, we've got a lot of ground to cover."

After a few tense seconds, the footsteps retreated down the stairs. Silence once again overtook the room. Vincent let out a slow breath, allowing his breathing to return to normal.

"That was close," he muttered. "What did you end up doing?"

Cait Sith smiled.

"Messed with their equipment a bit more. They were already reluctant to do the work. A bit more encouragement to be quick about their surveillance, really."

Vincent thought about it for a second.

"Good work, Cait."

The little robot stood a little straighter on the head of his mog. He did a little bounce and a twirl.

"Praise me more!"

"Let me know if anything else happens."

Cait Sith pouted a bit but nodded.

"No problem. I'll keep an eye out for anyone else coming around, but listening to the radio chatter, we should be safe for now."

Vincent let out a sigh of relief.

"Right," he said as he got up from the couch. "I'll head back to bed, then."

He paused.

"Sorry about the hole in your mog. Is there anything I can do to fix it?"

Cait Sith stuck his tongue out at him.

"Nah. This is an easy fix compared to the injuries we sustain in battle. He's got a built-in system to repair structural damage. I just need to give the electronics a once-over. He'll be fine by morning."

"Sorry anyway."

With that, he stepped back into the second bedroom. Even as he closed the door, Cait Sith was already fussing about his mog. Vincent shut the door and laid back down on the larger bed in the room. Sleep was slow to come. He spent his final waking moments worrying over what they could do next in Midgar.

…

As most of Midgar slept, others were very much awake. One individual stood at the edge of an island in the middle of a luminescent green lake. Magenta irises stared dispassionately down into the viscous depths. Long, silver hair undulated through the air, not unlike individual tentacles. A long black dress pooled around her, covering the humanoid form she had chosen to maintain. The only sign that she anything but human was a network of thin black veins along her neck. They pulsated with an otherworldly energy. And while those involved in the conflict rested their human forms, Jenova planned.

"…"

She let out a soft breath as she began to pace. The tips of her hair swayed, almost grazing the surface of the lake, but never touching it. The manipulation of Lifestream was, after all, not her current goal. Any other disturbance to it would only slow her down further. While she paced, there was no noise save for a dull hum from the energy saturating the chamber. Out in the lake, a barely-clothed man floated. His eyes were closed but his jaw was set in concentration. As he bobbed in that viscous liquid, tendrils of green rose around him. They floated through in the air for a moment before traveling into his chest. These tendrils appeared to struggle, fighting against an invisible force. It was a slow and arduous process. But the air was saturated with energy, and Lifestream could not remove this being from itself. These small fragments of Lifestream soon lost and fell prey to this man, sinking into his chest. And with every passing moment, Sephiroth got a bit stronger.

"Mother… what bothers you so?"

Though his eyes remained closed, the flow of energy into his body slowed. Even so, he was careful not to let the process completely stop. Jenova knew there was a fine line between too much and too little flow. Too much and he would be consumed by the energy itself. Too little and the energy accumulated would escape. And should either happen, her plans would have been for naught. She glanced over at the champion she had chosen for her mission. While she knew he would perform his task without fail, she could not resist the urge to check on him. She had waited too long for this moment for anything to go wrong. Not only would she not get another chance, but there was no other candidate like Sephiroth. Never had there been a human that integrated her essence so intimately.

"No, my son," she said. "I am only thinking about our plan. The end is near, though there are many who still seek to stop us."

"Shall I send another clone to stall them?"

Jenova shook her head, even though Sephiroth could not see her.

"No. That would only waste valuable time and resources. You have been doing well. I can feel your powers growing even now."

"It was all thanks to you."

A thin smile crossed her lips.

"Of course. It is my responsibility to look after you."

Sephiroth was silent for a moment. Then he continued in an almost worried tone.

"But I should look after you as well. Are you recovering well? Those incarnations that the puppet's team destroyed…"

Her eyes narrowed in annoyance, but the expression quickly faded.

"They were but empty constructs shed from excess energy. They served their purpose in hindering our enemies," she said dismissively.

"I see…"

Not wanting to speak on that further, she waved a hand and a shimmering pane appeared. Displayed was the sleeping figure of a man.

"The Cheater continues to struggle," she said. "He has regained the arm you crippled."

A frown appeared on Sephiroth's face.

"It is futile," he finally replied. "Everything he's done to this point has hardly hindered our plans."

With a huff, Jenova brushed a hand through the image.

"Regardless, the Cetra must be punished for their transgressions."

"Meteor will soon fall. Their punishment is imminent."

She shook her head.

"No. They must suffer for what they've done," she said. "I want them to despair when they realize they were to blame."

There was a pause as she stared out across the lake. Then, a small smile danced across her lips.

"And what better way than to use that arrogant pride of theirs…"

That ominous declaration hung in the air. Sephiroth's brow wrinkled when she did not elaborate.

"Forgive my ignorance, but why are you so focused on this?" He asked. "I understand that the Cetra are meddlers, but you seem… obsessed."

"Do I?"

Her voice carried an edge that caused Sephiroth to pause. For a moment, there was only the sound of Lifestream lapping at the edges of the platform. But then she let out a sigh.

"I suppose I am," she said with a shrug. "We have a long history."

Sephiroth waited in silence. And after a short pause, Jenova continued.

"You'll recall that the Cetra are not from this planet."

"Yes."

"I, too, was once from the stars. And for a time, I was even welcomed among their ranks."

The flow of Lifestream hiccupped briefly. Jenova paused as the energy in the room fluctuated.

"You were?" Sephiroth asked after regaining control.

"Though I was of a different race, we lived in harmony by providing for each other. The Cetra had a knack for communing with the planet. They used those powers to find food and shelter. Despite this, they lacked offensive capabilities. Their talents left them with high magical capabilities but low physical abilities. That was where my tribe came in. They would exchange food for protection. For a time, we cooperated against other aggressive tribes in the area."

Jenova paced as she spoke. And while Sephiroth kept his eyes closed, there was no doubt he could sense her agitation.

"While my tribe was content to serve as guardians, the Cetra became overconfident. They wanted more control even though they did not have the strength to achieve it. For a time, we helped them. But soon they began to believe themselves to be individually powerful."

The pacing stopped as she closed her eyes in remembrance.

"And when trouble arose, they pushed the blame onto those who had helped them for so long."

"You were betrayed."

"We were disgraced."

She looked up at the domed ceiling of the chamber they were in.

"We provided them with safety, and they threw it back in our faces."

Magenta eyes glinted with a barely suppressed anger.

"We were foolish to trust those traitorous Elders. When the time came, they sacrificed us all to seize power."

Sephiroth let out a measured sigh.

"That certainly sounds like something the cheaters would do. I take it your tribe fought back."

"Indeed."

She waved a hand and pinkish sparks of magic painted out a scene of horrific destruction. A grand city lay in ruins as two groups of humanoids clashed. Sephiroth was not watching, but she still stared at the scene with a calculating gaze.

"They should have died on that planet. Instead, they fled and tried to destroy us along with the planet."

In the projection, the ground began to erupt. Both Cetra and their opponents were engulfed in flames.

"I was the only survivor."

With a scowl, she swiped a hand through the memories, dispersing them. She shook her head.

"I'll admit, I was too rash when I first landed on this planet. I was too focused on killing the Cetra. I let them seal me in the ice just so I could squash a few more bugs."

Then, she glanced around the chamber and smiled.

"But, of course, I was not idle in my imprisonment. I learned all I could about the Lifestream and how it behaved."

Pacing again, she moved closer to the edge of the island in Lifestream.

"As those cheaters died out and weakened, I only grew stronger."

Her steps brought her closer and closer to the luminescent green liquid. As if sensing her presence, Lifestream almost seemed to pull back.

"I waited and waited."

She stopped.

"Then, I was blessed with you."

She smiled at Sephiroth's drifting form. But even as she felt pride in his accomplishments, his brow was creased.

"Um…"

For the first time in a long time, he sounded unsure of himself.

"Yes?"

"Are we not biologically related then?"

Jenova frowned at the question.

"You are my son. From the moment you integrated my essence, you became mine."

Her hands clenched.

"No one can take that away from me."

The cavern fell silent save for the sound of lapping waves. Sephiroth turned his head toward shore.

"Mother?"

She shook her head and looked back down at Lifestream. Her eyes narrowed in concentration as she took another step forward.

"How are you feeling now? You've been absorbing Lifestream for such a long time now."

Sephiroth hesitated for a second.

"I am getting used to the ebb and flow of energy."

Jenova nodded her head.

"Good, good. I've been toying with an idea for a few days now. There is something I would like to do but it will cause you a bit of… discomfort."

The look of concentration on Sephiroth's face intensified.

"I can handle it, Mother."

"Of course, you can. After all, you are my son."

She now stared down into the pale, green liquid of Lifestream. The glow of energy danced in her eyes, as a predatory smile graced her lips.

"Prepare yourself."

And with that, she took a step forward. The moment her bare foot touched the liquid, it began to turn black. Sephiroth let out a grunt as the veins in his neck bulged. Through sheer force of will, he continued his task despite the disturbance. Once she was sure he had grown accustomed to her presence, Jenova took another step. The corrupted Lifestream spread the deeper she moved.

"What are you planning, Mother?" Sephiroth asked in a strained voice.

Jenova stopped, the blackened Lifestream now lapping at her neck.

"I think I'll let those fools destroy their own Planet for us. If everything goes to plan, you'll gain a significant amount of energy soon enough. If you can assimilate it, it will make up for any delays incurred by the damage to Meteor."

"Understood."

She took another step and disappeared beneath the surface. Had anyone else been in that chamber, they would have seen a faint smile appear on Sephiroth's lips.

…

Elder Mae'viin had been in meditation for days now. With the death of the Planet and Lifestream so close at hand, she and her compatriots could not afford to relax. Since the Demon Container had left the Promised Land, nothing had changed. The projections of the future remained blank, meaning that Sephiroth would win. She prayed to the Planet for guidance. And as it had been for the past hundred years, there was only silence.

'Blessed Gaia bestow unto me knowledge of your enemies. Speak with me so that I, along with my brethren, may better protect you and the Lifestream that flows through your body.'

She had made that prayer countless times since Jenova had been uncovered by Shinra. Time and time again, she and the other Elders got no response. The Head Elder said this was not unexpected. According to him, Jenova had been slowly poisoning Lifestream ever since they sealed her away all those centuries ago. They could only watch as the madman called Hojo performed his disgusting experiments. They could only watch as the one known as Sephiroth was molded and manipulated into a killer. And now they would only be able to watch as their very home, the Planet itself, was destroyed. Everything they had tried to avoid this fate had been for naught.

'Gaia, please!'

In desperation, she pushed as much magical energy into the prayer as she dared. As her prayer formed, she could feel the very energies holding her form begin to dissipate. She saw lights dance behind her closed eyelids and felt a flash of pain lance through her skull. But with a strangled cry, she forced the prayer into the Planet. Her body slumped in exhaustion, still in a kneeling position of prayer. And just as despair began to fill her body, something happened. For the first time in centuries, she received a vision. It came in short, fragmented bursts, but she could recognize the scenes.

Sephiroth absorbing Lifestream.

The WEAPONs roaming the Planet searching for him.

Their repeated failures because of the barrier around North Crater.

The twisted form of Jenova within the bowels of the earth.

These were all scenes she was well-versed in. They were the very images that had driven the Cetra to seek out the Demon Container. The blessing of Foresight had been granted to the one who might do what others might not.

'What a mistake that was,' she thought as she drank in these images.

Nothing had changed. Sephiroth and Jenova still threatened the Planet's very existence. They continued to poison Lifestream from deep within North Crater.

She refused to accept this vision.

'If only Jenova wasn't interfering with our abilities!'

Stubbornly, she pulled on the mental link that granted her the vision. She refused to believe that her skill in communing with the Planet had diminished. They were the ones closest to the Planet. By integrating themselves with Lifestream, they ensured that they would always be there to protect their home. Humans had proven time and time again that they could not be trusted to care for the Planet. As the Protectors of their home, the Cetra needed that control. She felt a great weariness descend upon her form as she wrenched on that link. Then, in a flash of blinding green light, she saw it.

AVALANCHE had taken too long. Diamond WEAPON was able to reach Midgar well before the Sister Ray was charged. Under the directive to protect the Planet, it smashed through the city. And why would it do any different? That city had been draining its master of its lifeforce for decades. But it remained unable to sense the greater threat in North Crater. That mindless beast tore its way to the central main engines for the massive cannon. Something broke and the resulting explosion wiped out the rest of the city. Without a way into Sephiroth's inner sanctum, AVALANCHE could only watch as Meteor fell.

Ash blanketed the Planet.

Everything went dark.

Mae'viin opened her eyes with a gasp.

"W-What?"

There was a painful throbbing behind her eyes, a headache induced by the communion she made. Her hands shook as she tried to process what she had just seen. That vision, that horrific projection of the future, was different. None of it resembled what they had gleaned decades ago. She tried to stand but collapsed as her legs refused to move. For a few minutes, she sat there shivering. The Planet's final scream as Meteor hit still echoed in her mind.

'Mae'viin, are you alright? We felt a disturbance from you just now.'

The old woman blinked at the voice echoing through her mind. Based on the cadence and tone, it was the Head Elder, Auvel. In her distress, she had forgotten the Elders of the Cetra shared a mental link. It helped them in their surveillance of the Planet. As she regained herself, she responded. Though the conversation was in their minds, her voice shook.

'I… I just received a vision…'

Exclamations of shock echoed through her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut as the voices worsened the throbbing in her head.

'SILENCE!'

Mae'viin winced as Auvel's voice quelled the others. He continued in a softer tone.

'Sister, we must discuss this development. Please go to the council chambers immediately.'

With that, the others fell silent, indicating that they had broken their connection. But instead of leaving, Mae'viin continued to sit in her room. Closing her eyes, she reached out again.

'Blessed Gaia, what did we do wrong? How do we change this course?'

Once again, she found only silence. Heaving a sigh, she pushed herself to her feet. This time, her legs moved like they should, though there was still a weakness in her body. For the first time in centuries, she felt like the old woman she once was, rather than the spiritual being she was now. She stepped out of her designated home and shuffled her way to the Nexus in the center of the Promised Land.

"Blessings of the Planet be upon you, Elder."

Several Cetra bowed to her as she passed. It was a common occurrence during her day to day activities. But every so often, she caught glimpses of cold looks, glares from Cetra who she did not know. Those looks had been increasing in recent years. But the vision of the Planet's destruction was still fresh in her mind. She pushed all other thoughts away for the time being. Her feet carried her across the main monitoring floor without much input from her mind. As she reached the tall white doors near the back of the room, she found they were already open. She scurried inside as quick as she could. There, she found most of the seats in the council chamber already filled.

"Ah. Mae'viin. You've arrived."

Auvel sat in his usual position, looking imperious. While all the Elders' chairs were intricate, his seat was particularly special. The posts flanking the back curved and intertwined, forming a design above him. Mae'viin shuffled in and stood in the middle of the white tiled floor without speaking. As she wrung her hands, the remaining Elders entered and sat down.

"If you would, Sister," Auvel said. "Explain what you saw."

"You're sure it was a vision?" One Elder blurted.

"Pelken, please," the Head Elder interrupted.

Pelken did not look happy.

"My apologies. But… it's been so long since any of us saw anything," he said softly. "Even our most recent vision was seen through that Demon Holder's eyes."

The mention of Vincent caused many of the other Elders to scowl. A rumble of unrest passed through the group.

"What a disgrace, that man."

"Wasted our time and energy is what he did."

"Should've just let Sephiroth kill him."

"ENOUGH!" Auvel barked.

The room fell silent, though many still looked like they wanted to vent.

"Please, Mae'viin," he ushered. "The floor is yours."

Mae'viin paced for a while as she tried to get her thoughts in order.

"As I said, I received a vision of the future. It took more energy than we've ever needed, but I managed to push through the block Jenova placed."

The others waited on bated breath for her to continue.

"The future… the scenario we foresaw has grown far worse than we could have imagined."

She closed her eyes.

"I saw that Diamond WEAPON crash through Midgar. They were too slow to fire upon Jenova's barrier around North Crater."

"W-well, maybe that's for the better?" One younger woman said with a hopeful tone. "It's the Planet's essence that Shinra will be making use of…"

Mae'viin looked up at the speaker, a pitying look in her eyes.

"Nothing else has the power to get through Jenova's barrier. If we are unable to break through, our world, our Home, will end."

"But… What happened?" Pelken asked. "From the latest reports, Shinra is moving as fast as they can to get that cannon installed."

She spread her hands, palms up.

"I do not know."

"They have been idling for much longer than they did in the vision…" another Elder said. "Maybe it's the butterfly effect? All those changes the Demon Holder made… could they have actually slowed things down?"

"It must be him!" Pelken said slamming his hand on the table before him. "Having the Thief fall into Lifestream? Losing his arm? Coming HERE?! Everything has gone off track because of him!"

Once again, the room was filled with heated discussion. Mae'viin could only watch anxiously as her brethren argued. She paced back and forth, reviewing the vision in her mind. And as the cacophony reached a peak, Auvel spoke.

"That's enough."

This time he did not project his voice. There was a swell of magical force that quelled all discussion. Immediately, all eyes focused on him.

"If the Demon Holder has not been successful in his mission, then we only waste time waiting for him to act. We must once again take the reins to guide the Planet back into harmony. This is OUR Promised Land! We must protect it at all costs."

There were grim faces all around the room. Auvel clasped his hands and leaned forward in his seat.

"Sister, you say you saw Diamond WEAPON destroy Midgar?"

She nodded.

"Bring up our current view of Midgar."

A thin, blond-haired man at one end of the long table swiped a hand through the air. A large projection appeared before the council. Before them, they saw an aerial view of the city as if from a flying bird. It was a technique they had created when humanity was becoming the dominant race. As their own numbers dwindled, their surveillance weakened. The Cetra realized they could not track every human settlement on the Planet. So, they let other beings do it for them. Once upon a time, they could view the world through the eyes of humanity. But thanks to Jenova's interference, they now had to resort to lesser means.

From the eyes of a small bird, they saw what Midgar had become. Only weeks ago, this was a bustling hub of commerce, regardless of its toxic effects on the Planet. Now, there was an air of lifelessness to Upper Midgar. The setting sun caught across abandoned buildings and littered roads. No humans walked the streets anymore. What little could be seen under the upper plate was dark and foreboding. The only building that still shone brightly was Shinra Headquarters. Off to one side, steel supports fixed the Sister Ray against the building. Heavy cables ran from the base of the cannon to generators and machinery far out of sight.

"Kayun, can you get a closer view?"

The view shifted. This time it bobbed back across a rooftop, now through the eyes another creature. As if on command, the being looked toward the middle of the city. The fading sunlight glinted across the windows of the tall Shinra building. Now that they were closer, they could see that the cannon was only half-completed. A large amount of scaffolding still decorated most of its barrel. Large cranes set on tracks stood dormant close to the base of Shinra Headquarters. Work had clearly stopped for the day.

"They're not working on it," someone said.

"This is a time of crisis! Why aren't they working on it?!"

Auvel cleared his throat.

"Get a closer view."

Kayun nodded. His brow creased in concentration for a moment before the scene changed once again. From the cubicles around the room, they were inside the building. But as this new creature moved, it became clear that everything was much larger.

"Scout the area."

A look of strain appeared on Kayun's face.

"I could use a bit of support," he said through gritted teeth.

The woman next to him placed a hand on his shoulder. She had a slight sneer on her face, resembling that of the Head of Weapons Development, Scarlet. But Mae'viin had known her long enough to know that it was her normal expression. Her eyes narrowed in concentration. The vision shook before this smaller creature began to move through the office space.

"Good work, Lucala. Thank you for your contribution."

As they watched, they passed through many empty rooms before pausing before a large door. It sat partly ajar, a thin sliver of light spilling out from within. They could hear the tapping of keys as well. With a bit more urging, the creature the Elders were using entered the room. Illuminated by the glow of a computer screen, a single person sat working at a desk. His greasy hair was tied back in a ponytail and he had a pronounced hunch as he worked. The moment they entered the room, he stopped working and turned toward the door.

"Hojo…" Auvel growled. "Of course he'd be the only person working on that weapon."

Then, Hojo stood, eyes scanning the doorway. Auvel frowned.

"What's going on?"

"It's like… he senses us?" Pelken asked.

The Head Elder snorted.

"Impossible. He probably heard something."

"The entire city is in ruins. People are rioting. He's probably just paranoid about people breaking in," another Elder said.

As they watched, Hojo walked over to the door and looked outside. Then, as he was returning to his desk, his eyes darted down to look at them. Before anyone could act, he brought his foot down. The projection went dark.

"Ugh…"

Kayun slumped in his seat, breathing hard. Even Lucala looked weary from their efforts. Mae'viin shuddered as an uneasy feeling crept up her spine.

"W-What happened?"

The others looked to Auvel for answers. He shook his head.

"You were viewing the world through an insect of some sort," he said. "He killed it. That's all there is to it."

"Sure didn't seem like it," Mae'viin said softly.

Several of the Elders looked as if they agreed with her assessment. A few were muttering their own theories to each other.

"It doesn't matter," Auvel interrupted. "We now know that the cannon is in place, at the very least. While he is a despicable being, Hojo is also a perfectionist. We can use that to our advantage."

Mae'viin began her nervous pacing again.

"But how?"

Auvel steepled his fingers.

"Visions can be a powerful tool. We give him something like the dream the Demon Holder had. Use him to break the shield as soon as possible."

This upset many.

"We barely had enough power to send that vision to the Demon Holder. That put us back by weeks. It's time we don't have!"

"We all risked dispersing into Lifestream when we did that!" Lucala added. "There must be another way!"

The Head Elder grew quiet as he considered this. The others could only wait as they had no other solutions to offer.

"Hojo is a smart man. He can piece together images. We'll send him as much as we can safely afford."

Mae'viin frowned.

"Are you sure this will work?"

He nodded. Standing from his seat, Auvel left the council table and approached Mae'viin. He proffered his hand.

"Sister, show me your vision."

She took his hand and concentrated. That vision, the only message anyone had received from the Planet in decades, was vivid. But in the end, they were spirits. And as Kayun had demonstrated, their abilities were limited. Mae'viin collapsed to her knees after sharing the memories with the Head Elder. He was silent for a while, pondering over what he had seen. Then, raising a hand, Auvel projected three simple images. The first was the barrier around North Crater. The second depicted Diamond WEAPON crashing through Shinra Tower. The final was of Meteor striking the Planet. Auvel turned to the others.

"This should be plenty for someone of his intelligence."

From the look of it, most of the Elders agreed. Mae'viin still had her doubts, but the plan was straightforward enough. She felt another tingle in her mind and shook her head. Her mind still felt fuzzy from the memory transfer. Auvel addressed the group once more.

"Then we will send him this vision. That should help speed things up. All in favor?"

He waited as members raised their hands. It was close, but there was a majority.

"Dissenting members, your thoughts?" Auvel asked in a neutral tone.

"I'm still worried it won't be enough," said one Elder.

"We're still depending on AVALANCHE to bring Sephiroth down," said another. "Shouldn't we be influencing them instead?"

"What if we sent them those images, would they pick up the speed?"

Auvel shook his head.

"No, AVALANCHE is scattered. You've seen what became of the actions made by the Demon Holder. Even if one of them were to receive this vision, it will be in vain. We need that barrier down as soon as possible. Once we've accomplished that, Shinra can go do what they do best."

This swayed a few members.

"But…" another dissenter said slowly. "Can they even hope to defeat Sephiroth with the way he is now?"

Mae'viin also wondered who would ultimately put a stop to Meteor. She winced as her headache threatened to return.

"Mae'viin?" Auvel asked. "You were the one to receive this vision. What are your thoughts?"

She blinked, surprised at being put on the spot.

"I…"

Her head throbbed once more. She squeezed her eyes shut.

"Sorry, I'm not feeling well," she said. "Do what you think is appropriate."

The Head Elder nodded sagely.

"Of course," he said. "No doubt you've had a trying time with this information. Please, rest while we send this vision to Hojo."

Nodding, she got to her feet and shuffled out of the room. The last thing she saw was the rest of the Elders joining hands. Over the years, they had felt Jenova growing stronger. They would no doubt need to pool their magical reserves to send Hojo the visions. Trusting in their judgment, she made her way back through the Promised Land. With every step, the pain in her head worsened.

'What… is this?'

A few muddled thoughts ran through her mind. Was this really from the strain of communing with the Planet? Had she used too much magic to receive her vision?

Was she about to dissipate from a lack of mana?

She managed to get through her front door before collapsing to the ground.

…

Scant minutes after he had fallen asleep for the night, Hojo opened his eyes. He sat up and blinked slowly. Then, a curious smile formed on his pale lips.

"How… fascinating…"

He got up from his bed and put on his glasses. This was no time for sleep.

There was an experiment to run.

…

"What do you think the others are up to?"

Yuffie swung her legs as she sat on the railing of a bridge. In one hand, she held a tea-flavored cream popsicle she had gotten from a small shop. Below her, a gentle stream coursed through the town and out of Wutai. After completing her trials, Yuffie had spent most of the previous day recuperating. While she wanted to walk around her hometown with Cloud, her body simply could not handle it. Instead, he had convinced her to stay in bed while he restocked the Highwind.

"Not sure," Cloud said with a shrug. "Barret and Red are still in the forest, I think. I tried calling them yesterday and wasn't able to get through."

He twirled an empty popsicle stick in his fingers, having finished his treat already.

"Yeah, probably no signal in there."

Cloud looked to the west.

"No word from Tifa, Vincent, and Cait Sith either…"

Yuffie took another bite of her popsicle and sighed.

"I feel a little guilty. I didn't even think about the others much. And Vinnie and Tifa are deep within Midgar, too…"

"Don't feel bad," Cloud immediately responded. "You had your own thing to deal with. They know how to handle themselves."

He placed a hand onto hers on the railing.

"I'm sure Cait Sith will call us as soon as they're able."

She nodded reluctantly.

"Right…"

Then, shaking her head, she looked down at Cloud.

"How's Cid? Last I remember, he was still out."

Her question caused Cloud to grimace a bit.

"He's healthy but getting knocked out like that will take more time to recover from. He was up and about yesterday, though he still looked a bit woozy."

Yuffie hummed absentmindedly as she finished her snack. She let out a wistful sigh as she looked at Wutai again. In the distance, she could see the marketplace. She remembered running through these same streets when she was younger. Despite decades of technological advancement, Wutai retained a traditional lifestyle. Most of the residents still produced and traded crops to make a living. While a fraction of Wutai's income came from exports to places like Costa del Sol and Junon, there was still a need for farmers. But now, the streets were almost barren. Townspeople set up shop to keep their minds off the Planet's imminent demise. She and Cloud had not even paid for their popsicles.

"I hope things will get better after Sephiroth is taken care of."

Cloud looked in the direction she was facing and sighed.

"I won't lie, it'll be a while before anything is remotely 'back to normal'."

"I know…"

Her eyes never left the town. Cloud patted her hand reassuringly.

"Hey, tell you what," he said. "It'll be the next mission we undertake."

Yuffie let out a snort.

"That was so cheesy."

He grinned.

"You really think we can do it?"

The smile faded. His hand tightened over hers.

"Yes," he said. "Because if we don't, there will be nothing left."

"That's a bit grim."

She let out a sigh.

"But I guess there's nothing we can do but try our best. If we lose, well…"

Cloud let out a sharp breath and pushed away from the railing.

"Enough of those depressing thoughts," he said. "Let's relax a bit. We might not get another break like this."

Yuffie hopped down and followed him.

"You'd think Shinra of all people would be quick to set up a weapon to use against Sephiroth."

He gave a bitter laugh at this. As they walked, Yuffie kept looking around as if trying to commit everything to memory. As Cloud browsed a selection of throwing knives at a roadside stall, she stopped.

"Hey, Cloud?"

"Yeah?"

"I want to stop by the mountains before we leave."

"Prayer?" He guessed.

"Yeah."

He stepped back from the stall, giving the shopkeeper a polite smile. The woman bowed, more to Yuffie than him.

"Let's do it now then. We could get a call from Vincent or Tifa at any time."

Yuffie glanced around again before nodding.

"Alright."

They took the small road leading out of Wutai and up the mountain trail. The last time Yuffie had been here, she had been a captive. She paused at the base of the mountain, clasping her hands and bowing to the stone figures in silent prayer. Then, they began to climb. As they ascended, Yuffie stopped at regular intervals before individual statues. At each, she made another short prayer specific to that god. They soon passed a rockier incline, roughly where she and Elena had been tied up.

"Feels like forever since we were here," she said as they climbed.

"A lot has happened in a matter of weeks," Cloud replied with a grimace.

She shook her head and kept climbing. Once she had visited each carving, she hiked up the rest of the trail. They found themselves at the very top of the rise, overlooking Wutai.

"I liked to come here when I was younger," she said with a small chuckle. "Every time I got in an argument with my old man, I guess."

She sat down on the ledge with a huff. He followed suit, allowing her to lean against him.

"I want to protect this place," she said.

"I know."

With that, they simply sat and enjoyed the view. Though Wutai was less active these days, there was still an air of tranquility. The surrounding forests still emanated a calming aura. Animals went about their normal routines, unaware of Meteor hanging above the Planet. But for just a moment, Yuffie let herself forget about those worries and enjoyed the breeze. As the sun slowly crawled across the sky, a humid breeze began to blow. She felt her eyes drifting shut.

The next moment, she jerked awake with a sharp breath. Looking around, she saw that the sun had already passed the midpoint. Cloud let out a soft chuckle.

"Still tired?"

She felt something wet and realized she had ended up drooling on his shoulder. As she wiped at his shirt, Yuffie felt her face growing warm.

"Sorry…" she mumbled.

"Don't worry about it."

Her stomach let out a growl.

"Want to grab some lunch?"

She perked up.

"Ooh! I know a great noodle place! I saw it while we were in the market. I used to go there as a kid!"

Cloud smiled.

"Sounds good. I'd love to go."

They began the slow trek down the mountain. All the while, she reminisced about her childhood.

"I can't believe that store is still open."

"Why?"

"The owner was really old when I went. I don't think he had any kids either."

"Maybe he found someone to train?"

"Maybe. Ooh… I gotta see if their soup is as good as I remember."

"Good soup?"

"Yeah, it was rumored to take a week to make!"

"Ah."

"And the meat was so tender it would just melt in your mouth…"

"Ugh…"

"Even the noodles were good. No idea how that old man had the time to make all that."

"…"

She paused when she realized she was walking alone.

"Cloud?"

Turning, she found Cloud on his hands and knees, several paces back.

"Cloud!"

She was at his side in an instant.

"What…" he groaned.

"Are you alright? What happened?"

He shook his head, eyes screwed up in pain. She offered him a hand and helped him to his feet, all the while looking him over. He did not seem to be physically injured, which worried her even more.

"Was it Sephiroth again?"

"No…"

Rubbing his eyes, he let out a sigh.

"That was different. No one was trying to control my actions or anything," he said. "It felt more like a cry for help. Also, I saw… Shinra?"

Her hand was still on his arm as she continued to look him over.

"Shinra? Why would you be seeing Shinra?"

He frowned.

"I don't know, but I don't have a good feeling about it."

Taking out his PHS, he tried calling a few people. Yuffie fidgeted nervously as they waited for a response. After trying several numbers, he put the PHS away with a frustrated sigh.

"No response. I can't get ahold of Tifa or Vincent either."

"How is that possible?"

He shrugged.

"Midgar is a mess from what we know. It's entirely possible there's interference with the signal."

He took one last look around Wutai and his shoulders slumped.

"I'd love to stay longer, but I think we should get in contact with the others and make our way back toward Midgar."

Yuffie was reluctant to leave but nodded anyway.

"Can you grab my stuff? I need to do something real quick."

Cloud gave her a nod.

"Alright," he said. "I'll meet you on the Highwind."

"Gotcha!"

With that, she ran off through the town again. A few people waved at her but most kept out of her way when they saw the look on her face. She arrived at her father's house after a few minutes. He was already standing on the front porch.

"Oh," she stammered. "Uh… Hey, old man."

"Daughter."

"What are you doing outside?"

He studied her with his arms crossed.

"I was praying to Leviathan and felt the urge to come outside."

"Meddling lizard," she muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing!"

Godo gave her a slow blink.

"Was there something you needed?'

She shook her head, remembering why she had come in the first place.

"Cloud's worried something's happening in Midgar so we're leaving."

"I see."

She kicked the ground during the awkward silence that ensued.

"Well, uh…" she hesitated for a moment. "I don't know what's going to happen, but we might be heading to North Crater after this."

"I am aware."

"Ah."

He let out a sigh.

"Despite your age, your experiences have shown you are an adult and can take care of yourself. I only pray that you stay safe and return victorious."

She felt her insides squirm a bit. The praise was somehow foreign yet welcoming at the same time.

"Y-Yeah."

She turned to leave when his voice called out again.

"Yuffie."

She stopped.

"I think I might retire after this. How do you feel about running a nation?"

Eyes wide in panic, she whirled to face him.

"What?!"

Then she saw a cheeky grin on his face.

"Hurry back, my daughter."

A wave of embarrassment filled her body. She stomped her foot in anger.

"Whatever, you senile old man!"

With that, she ran off. All the while, she could feel her father's gaze on her back. Before long, she found herself at the gates of Wutai, with the Highwind in the distance. As she stepped back out onto the grassy plains, she felt her foot catch on something.

"Whoa!"

Flailing her arms, she tumbled into the dirt. She let out a small groan as she pushed herself back to her feet. The breeze picked up around her as she did.

"Good luck, Yuffie."

Her head snapped up. She recognized the voice. Leaping to her feet, she spun in a circle, her eyes darting this way and that. There was no one around. Looking back at Wutai, she could see the ancient sculptures watching over the town. She gritted her teeth.

"I'll be back," she said quietly.

And with that, she turned and continued running toward the ship.

…

Someone, no something, was screaming in her ear. It was a shrill, piercing noise. With that sound came flashes of images and emotions. It was incomplete, fragments of a message sent to her through heavy interference. But she saw it anyway.

Meteor descending.

Apprehension.

Shinra working on the cannon.

Hatred.

The barrier around North Crater.

Worry.

Sephiroth.

Betrayal.

Jenova standing watch as Lifestream was corrupted.

Fear.

Jenova entering Lifestream as the liquid around her began to blacken.

Pain.

Mae'viin woke with a sharp gasp. Her mind reeled and nausea coursed through her body. Through tear-filled eyes, she saw that she was where she had fallen.

'What… what was that?'

She pushed herself to her knees, a new vision burned into her mind.

"Fascinating. I did not think the Planet still had the energy to form any coherent thought."

At the unknown voice, Mae'viin scrambled to her feet.

"Who's there?!"

Her eyes darted across her modest living space. She found a silver-haired woman in a silken black dress sitting at the nearby table. That was the first warning sign. Few people in the Promised Land wore anything other than white. The only two she could think of were Aerith, the Planet's favorite, and the ruffian the Planet allowed to exist here. That meant this intruder was, without a doubt, different. She tensed as she caught sight of this unknown woman's eyes. They were magenta and glowed with power.

"Jenova!" She hissed.

Mae'viin moved for the door. But before she made it two steps, a flesh-colored tentacle cut her off. It crashed straight through the artificial walls, blocking the door and preventing escape.

"Going so soon?"

She shuddered at that smooth, seductive voice. Turning back to Jenova, she realized the alien had not moved at all. With one leg crossed over the other, she looked rather relaxed. Only a disgusting tentacle slithering out from beneath her dress was any sign she had attacked.

"What are you doing here, monster?"

Cornered, Mae'viin could only put on a façade of bravery. Jenova was unfazed as she studied the Cetra Elder.

"Funny story, really. I was taking a walk when I felt a dying planet trying to send out one final warning. I followed that trail and here I am."

"What?"

Mae'viin's mind raced. There had been two visions in recent memory. She had no idea how long she was unconscious, but Hojo should have already received his dream. A nervous chuckle burbled past her lips.

"We're one step ahead of you, fiend," she declared. "Struggle all you want, but your plans will fail. The shield will fall and Sephiroth will be eliminated! We won't let you destroy the Planet!"

Jenova blinked slowly. It was the look of a cat toying with its prey.

"Oh?" She said. "Your precious Planet actually warned you then?"

She shifted her legs, crossing them the other way.

"I do hope you've utilized some more… effective… pawns this time?"

Mae'viin looked on in confusion.

"What?"

"After all, that poor boy with the demons…"

Jenova placed one long, clawed finger against her cheek.

"He's tried so hard. You told him about our plans, but nothing he's done has made a single bit of a difference."

"The Demon Holder was a mistake," Mae'viin spat.

"And you think dear Hojo will bend to your will?"

"He works for Shinra!" Mae'viin snapped. "Of course he – "

She froze when she realized she had never mentioned Hojo. Jenova's smile became impossibly wide.

"You were so desperate for a solution. I thought I would give you a little… push. It's a pity you can't communicate with the Planet anymore. It probably would've tried to warn you sooner. I imagine whatever dying burst it just sent out was incomprehensible to your little mind."

Mae'viin's mind raced.

"But… my vision…"

"Yes, yes. Your vision," Jenova said with a roll of her eyes. "I know how your powers work, Mae'viin. Use a bunch of mana, interpret the things your dying mind sees. It's all rather crude, don't you think?"

She tilted her head.

"And so easy to manipulate."

Mae'viin did not speak. Her mouth opened and closed soundlessly. At this, Jenova waved a hand.

"Come now," she said. "You didn't actually think you could still speak with the Planet did you?"

"You were… blocking us…" Mae'viin said haltingly.

The alien let out a peal of laughter.

"Oh my. Such denial!" She said with a gleeful smile. "'Whenever something goes wrong, blame it on the evil Jenova.' Was it something like that?"

"Why… Why are you here?"

The question came as a whisper. The Elder stared at the ground, lost in her own panicked thoughts.

"Why? I came to thank you, of course," Jenova replied. "There I was, wondering how to best give my son more energy when the answer presented itself! Let him absorb the energy Shinra's been trying to use against my barrier! So long as he's aware of the plan, such an influx shouldn't come as a surprise. All I needed was a messenger."

Jenova shifted in her seat, now almost lounging.

"And should a certain scientist be convinced to… rush the process a little…" she continued in a teasing tone. "Maybe remove a few safety precautions – "

She did not finish as Mae'viin charged at her. One hand was ablaze with energy gathered from the Promised Land. There was a look of pure rage on her face.

"YOU!"

She lashed out at the alien. Before she could connect, a second tentacle pierced her stomach. She jolted to a halt and let out a pained cough. Though there was no blood, she felt physical pain for the first time in centuries. Jenova's tentacle dragged Mae'viin closer.

"How rude," she said with that same smug smile. "Did no one ever teach you not to interrupt others? Or have you gotten so used to having things your way?"

Mae'viin was thrown to the floor like a piece of garbage. Jenova scoffed.

"And here I was trying to thank you for your help."

Slowly, the hole in Mae'viin's spiritual form closed. Regaining her breath, she glared up at the alien.

"You MONSTER! How could you?!" She spat. "Why are you doing this to us?!"

"Is a tyrant not deserving of the revolution?" Jenova mused. "I'd have thought the answer was obvious."

"You will pay, abomination!" Mae'viin spat. "You may think you've won, but Sephiroth will be stopped and you will be destroyed!"

This only caused Jenova to sigh.

"Such cruelty," she said with another tilt of her head. "I remember a time when we were friends, Mae'viin."

"That was all part of your deception!"

Jenova shrugged.

"If you say so."

She knew Jenova was not someone she could fight alone. And while she had failed in her attack, there was hope. The alien's presence in the Promised Land meant that she was currently within Lifestream. Not a disgusting offshoot like she often used, but her physical form. That meant that if they could kill her here, Jenova's essence might dissipate harmlessly into the ether. With that in mind, Mae'viin tried to call for help. She reached out for her fellow Elders. But where there was once a clear connection, now there was nothing. Her eyes widened in fear as Jenova smiled.

"What have you done to the others?" Mae'viin asked in a whisper.

That smile only grew.

"Oh, I imagine they're all quite preoccupied at the moment."

"What do you want, abomination?"

To this, Jenova only chuckled.

"Again, with the name-calling. You Elders really don't change. Even after all these centuries, you still gladly erase the names of those you see as lesser."

She stood and sashayed over, her feminine form alluring and dangerous. Mae'viin shuddered in fear and loathing. One long finger reached out, a sharp nail grazing her face. She flinched, expecting Jenova to attack. But instead, Jenova ran that finger down her cheek and under her chin. Her head was tilted up to stare into those magenta eyes.

"Rewrite history all you want, Mae'viin. But you and I know the truth. Isn't that right?"

In a burst of anger, Mae'viin lashed out, slapping Jenova's hand away. The alien only smiled as one would at a disobedient child.

"Don't you lie! You intended to destroy the Cetra from the moment you learned about our tribe!"

Jenova stuck her bottom lip out in a mocking pout.

"Really? Are you sure it wasn't because you had all my brothers and sisters killed?"

"Your accursed tribe sought forbidden power! You sealed your fate the moment you ingested that poison!"

In the blink of an eye, Jenova vanished. Two hands settled on her shoulders, holding her in place with an iron grip.

"Come now, who was it that pushed us to such extents?"

Mae'viin struggled, but she could not break free.

"I have no idea what you're talking about!"

The hands released their grip and Jenova took a step back. There was a wide-eyed look of innocence on her face.

"Of course! Of course!" Jenova said with an understanding nod. "You were powerless pacifists wanting to coexist with your neighbors. Is that what the Agricaes believed? How about the Venators? The Duchis?"

"SHUT UP!"

The smile faded from Jenova's face.

"Why do you continue this charade? There's no one left to prove yourselves to."

The Cetra only glowered.

"Could it be you're still trying to justify your actions to yourself?"

She suddenly let out a burst of laughter.

"That's it isn't it!"

Mae'viin bit her lip in anger, but no blood appeared. In another bipolar shift, Jenova's face darkened.

"How pathetic."

"Wha – "

"It's so pathetic, it hurts to watch. Here you are, a shadow of your former selves. You can't communicate with the Planet, you serve no purpose in this world. Don't you realize what you've become?"

She leaned in.

"You're parasites."

Something inside Mae'viin snapped. With a roar, she threw herself at the hunter of her tribe. Her hands collided with an invisible shield, but she continued to lash out. Again and again, her fists pounded against that wall. Though there was no blood, every hit sent spasms through her hands and mind.

"What do you know?" She screamed in pain and anger. "All your blasted tribe had to do was kill like you were told! You didn't need brains! How could you possibly understand how hard it is to run a nation?! Every damned thing you touched died! We tried to give you an alternative, but you were too STUPID to LISTEN!"

She fell to her knees, breathing hard. Then, she realized Jenova was still standing before her. There was a soft sigh.

"You make it so easy to hate you," Jenova said in a light tone. "Here I thought the high and mighty Elders were worth something. And instead, I find a bunch of brainless relics, desperately clinging onto their fading relevance. Not sure why I even gave you all the benefit of the doubt."

Mae'viin opened her mouth to speak. But before she could get a word out, a tentacle coiled around her throat. Rather than pressure, a burst of energy gave her the sensation of choking. It lifted her into the air as Jenova rolled her shoulders. Mae'viin's hands scrabbled uselessly at the appendage as her feet kicked out.

"Well then. Let's take a walk, shall we?"

Before Mae'viin could react, Jenova destroyed the front of her house and stepped outside. A few Cetra turned toward the sudden commotion. Most were shocked at the noise, having lived for centuries in this peaceful haven. But as Jenova began to walk, they regained their senses.

"HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE ELDER!"

One young Cetra rushed over when he caught sight of Mae'viin. He never stood a chance. With a casual flick of a tentacle, Jenova beheaded him. His eyes were filled with shock as his body dissipated into energy. The silence only lasted a moment. Pandemonium set in as nearby Cetra began fleeing. Screams filled the air as more people started recognizing the intruder. A few had the misfortune of crossing Jenova's path as she continued down the street. They were dispatched with that same cold efficiency. Angry tears came to Mae'viin's eyes as she continued to struggle. And with the air of one on a casual walk, Jenova made her way to the tall chapel-like Nexus. By the time she arrived, there was already dozens of Cetra preventing her from entering.

"Stay back, monster!" One older man shouted. "Begone from this holy place!"

'No… stop…'

Mae'viin watched through tear-filled eyes as Jenova stepped forth. She caught a glimpse of a predatory grin on her face. Still held by a single tentacle, Mae'viin could only watch as a second tentacle swept through the crowd. Those closest to her were bisected and dissipated within seconds. Others were knocked aside, scattering into the gathered fighters.

"What a lovely place you have here within Lifestream," Jenova said as she continued forward.

There was a surge of energy.

"I think I'll keep it."

Something exploded out of her back. Held facing forward, Mae'viin could not see what it was. But seconds later, a fine ashen substance began drifting through the air. Cetra collapsed left and right as they came in contact with this floating substance. A bit of it settled on Mae'viin's arms, and she let out a muffled scream of pain. It felt as if thousands of tiny insects were burrowing into her skin.

And as this ash settled onto the pristine white ground of the Promised Land, the land changed. That light was quickly snuffed out. In a rapid chain reaction, the ground surrounding Jenova began to blacken. Veins of magenta energy emerged, centered around pulsating pustules. Jenova dragged Mae'viin past the dying Cetra. The weaker members of the Cetra were already dissipating back into motes of energy. Dots of gray and white danced through the air.

"W-Wait…"

One female Cetra stood on trembling legs. Jenova paused. Though that woman was standing, the corruption was clearly having a toll on her stamina. She raised a hand and a swirl of fire shot forth. It collided with Jenova's barrier and had no other visible effect.

"Sorry, dear. You'll have to do better than that," Jenova purred.

She did not even bother killing the Cetra, only turning away. A soft thud from behind them was all Mae'viin needed to hear. She slumped in defeat. There was no use struggling anymore. Now, only bitter tears flowed down her face. As they entered the main building, she saw that everything had already been corrupted. Not a single Cetra could be found within the expansive ground floor. All the displays that once projected visions of the Planet were blank with no one to power them.

"I stopped by earlier. Pathetic how no one noticed while I was at your place."

There was no more sadness. Mae'viin felt numb to the horrific state of their central headquarters. Centuries of work to care for the Planet and keep life safe had been wiped out.

"I even got a chance to take a look around," Jenova continued in a disappointed voice. "Did you really have a throne room for you Elders? Were you really that conceited?"

She strode across the blackened floors, toward the tall double doors in the distance.

"But don't you worry about this old building. You'll have each other as the world crumbles to dust. After all, you only ever associate with those of your own social standing, no?"

Mae'viin let out a muffled gasp as she looked inside the council chambers. Twisted spines rose from the floor impaling each member of the Elder Council. Most of them hung limply, faces turned toward the corrupted ground below them. A few twitched feebly, but every motion only pulled them further down the spires. But the most terrifying sight was what had happened to the Head Elder. Tendrils and spines had affixed him above the fine chair he once sat upon. Some curled around his limbs, others pierced straight through his body. Half his face was blackened with Jenova's energy. And rather than killing him outright, the spines seemed to be injecting him with that same corrupting energy. A thin line of drool trickled out of the side of his mouth, his eyes staring blanking ahead.

"You'd be surprised how little resistance they put up. Guess all you Cetra could do in the end was hide."

Jenova dragged Mae'viin inside before turning to face her. She opened her mouth to speak when the ground shook. A piercing shriek echoed through Mae'viin's mind, causing her to squeeze her eyes shut in pain. Then, a wave of nausea wracked her body as the energy sustaining the Promised Land fluctuated. Mae'viin retched instinctively.

"Hm. That was fast."

Before she could recover, Jenova dropped her onto the floor.

"Gah!"

She let out a sharp hiss as she touched the corrupted ground. It burned with a pain that went deep into her very core. No matter how she turned, that chill continued to seep into her. It occurred to her that Jenova's abilities were somehow infecting them all. That ash changed the very energy that constructed everything in the Promised Land. She could only huddle on her knees, trying in vain to prevent touching the floor. As she squirmed, Jenova stepped past her. The alien bent at the waist to peer up at one of the Elders.

"Comfy?"

The Elder looked up. In the dimming light, Mae'viin saw it was Lucala. The sneer on her face was more pronounced than ever as she grimaced in pain. Through that, she spat onto Jenova's face. And while it was all energy, Jenova frowned.

"Well, you won't be missed."

She snapped her clawed fingers. Mae'viin felt a surge of dread as Lucala's eyes narrowed in pain. Then, she let out a piercing scream. Nearby, the other Elders watched in horror as her skin seemed to disintegrate. She continued to scream as, bit by bit, branches grew from the central spine. They crept outward, like the extending branches of a snowflake. She shook violently before her very form melted into ash. It was soon absorbed into the ground. For a moment, silence reigned.

"LUCALA!"

A broken voice screamed out from one of the spines. Mae'viin winced as she realized it was the Elder's partner in life.

"Well. That was unpleasant," Jenova said lightly.

Lucala's partner wept as the other Elders fell silent. There was no more anger, only a pervading sense of utter helplessness. Jenova now had a wide smile on her face.

"Come now!" She declared. "You should be reveling in your deeds! Isn't that what you're used to doing?"

She concentrated before throwing her arms wide. A massive image of the outside world sprang into existence, much like how the Cetras once watched humanity.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

Mae'viin's eyes widened at what she saw. She wanted to look away, but it was just too horrible. A small, nagging doubt formed in the back of her mind.

'How did we get it so wrong?'

Then, a sharp pain exploded through her stomach. She let out a horrible gurgle as she was lifted several feet into the air by a blackened piece of the floor.

"Sorry, Mae'viin. It's only fair."

Jenova left Mae'viin's side and made her way up to the Head Elder's seat. The once pristine filigree was now sharp and dotted with pulsating purple crystals. Her footsteps echoed loudly against the corrupted tiles of the council room. She climbed the stairs and sat down behind the bench that elevated the Cetras' seats. Lounging in the transformed Head Elder's seat, Jenova rested her cheek on one hand. All around her were the faint sounds of pain. And while they could not move, Jenova turned her eyes the terrible scene before them.

"Now, let's watch my son destroy everything you've worked for, shall we?"

…

Tifa let out a yawn as she woke. A glimmer of sunlight was peeking through the curtains in her room. Smacking her lips, she realized she had slept very well considering their situation. Based on the faint conversation from the living room, Vincent was already awake. They were still running on limited time so, reluctantly, she got out of bed. She stretched, grabbed a fresh set of clothes from her travel bag, and packed the rest. As she looked up, she caught sight of her messy bed. A pang of guilt emerged in the pit of her stomach. She grabbed a piece of paper from a small desk in the room and scribbled a note thanking the owners of the apartment. With that, she grabbed a towel and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

"Morning."

She let out a yawn as she stepped into the living room a few minutes later. Vincent was sitting on the couch practicing with his prosthetic. This time, he was squeezing a foam-filled therapy ball. From the looks of it, the goal was to put enough pressure to deform the foam, but not break the outer membrane. Seeing only two punctured therapy balls next to him, she guessed he was getting better. Either that or he had just started. She idly wondered where he was keeping all the training items he got from Reeve. Setting her bag down, she sat down on a recliner placed at one end of the couch. She noted that, in the far corner, Cait Sith was flopped over limply on top of his mog.

"What's with him?" She asked.

Vincent looked up from his exercise.

"Conference with Reeve."

"Ah."

Tifa fiddled with her PHS as they waited. After trying to find updates on Shinra's activities, she realized there was none. All Shinra-run media outlets were dark. Other popular newsgroups had also stopped reporting well over a week ago. The few places she could find any activity talked about conspiracies and the end of the world. With a scowl, she put her PHS away and got up from the chair. She paced around before heading to the window. The curtains remained closed on the off-chance they got spotted by surveillance drones. But the morning light filtered in even still. She peeked outside and caught sight of the barrel of the Sister Ray in the distance. While it was a sector over, she could still see it pointing to the northwest. Otherwise, the area was quiet.

"I can't believe it. Even after that explosion, no one has reported anything."

Though focusing on his exercises, Vincent still responded.

"Shinra has too many priorities. I'm not surprised they gave up trying to control the public. No one's watching the news anymore, so they stopped bothering."

She let out a sigh, turning away from the window. Then she leaned back against the wall, her arms crossed.

"I can't believe they were trying to make more of those machines," she continued. "What good would they have been if they couldn't get to Sephiroth?"

Vincent grimaced. His hand reflexively tightened at the name, puncturing the therapy ball. He set the ruined foam aside, pulled another out of his bag, and continued to practice.

"It was probably all Scarlet and Heidegger could do. Look busy, keep their minds off other things."

"I suppose they might've been useful if they used them against Sephiroth," Tifa said with a frown. "But the Sister Ray is still being set up, right?"

"As far as I know."

Tifa scowled at the closed blinds before walking back to the recliner. She let out a huff as she slumped into the seat.

"I hate all this waiting…"

"I know."

"You think we'll still have to face Hojo?"

"Probably."

Tifa was silent for a moment. Then, leaning forward, she spoke again.

"How's Chaos doing?"

That got Vincent to stop practicing. He looked over at her and blinked a few times.

"Why do you ask?"

"Just concerned, I guess," she replied. "He seemed nice enough when I met him."

Vincent blinked.

"He's a demon."

She shrugged in response.

"Well, he's pretty strong if he survived Sephiroth's attack. Same with the others, I suppose. We need all the help we can get, right?"

With a sigh, Vincent nodded. He closed his eyes as he turned his focus inward. She waited patiently as a look of consternation crossed his face.

"Chaos is fully recovered. Hellmasker – he's the one with the chainsaw – he's conscious again. The other two are still unconscious. I'm starting to worry they might not recover in time for the final fight."

"That's… not good," Tifa said with a frown. "Is there anything we can do?"

Vincent shrugged. There was a guilty look on his face.

"To be honest, I've never learned much about them. I knew they were there, but that's it. All that time I was sleeping, I couldn't speak much with them. And then when I awoke, I was too busy trying to…" he waved a hand. "Well, you know the rest."

Tifa winced.

"They're a part of me," he continued. "Yet they are not… me?"

"That makes sense, in a weird way," she replied with a frown. "You said Hojo somehow implanted them in you, right?"

He nodded again.

"Unfortunately, if there were any notes, they're either in Nibelheim, with Hojo, or they don't exist. We can only wait and see."

With a sigh, Tifa slumped in her seat.

"So, what now? We wait for the cannon to break Sephiroth's barrier and then go stop him?"

He glanced over at Cait Sith. Seeing that the cat was still offline, he nodded.

"If Shinra is still planning on attacking the barrier, then yes. If we can cut Hojo off before he gets a chance to do anything else with the cannon, even better."

"We're stuck here for a few more days then," Tifa moaned. "Is there anything else we can do?"

Vincent shook his head.

"They're waiting on the cannon, just like us. Besides, the Proud Clod war machines were Shinra's last hope. Their army is in disarray and would only be walking to their deaths against Sephiroth."

"I have to wonder if they might've been useful to bring with us."

Setting a still-intact therapy ball down, he gave her a flat stare.

"You know as well as I do that they could not be trusted with such immense firepower. Even now, they still have orders to kill us on sight."

"Wait, what?"

That bit of news woke Tifa up completely.

"Cait Sith monitored their radio chatter all night. A small group came by during the night, but they were reluctant to do their job. He was able to convince them we were nobody of interest. The scouts in the area reported their failures to Shinra and they gave up searching. Despite this, the remaining troops are still on high alert for suspicious activity."

Tifa bit her lip, as she took in this news.

"Why didn't he wake us?"

Vincent looked away.

"He woke me, and I was… jumpy."

She raised an eyebrow at this.

"Right…" she said before deciding to set the issue aside. "You said the army isn't organized anymore. How are they even coordinating all this?"

He sighed.

"Yes. The only ones left seem to be those that enjoy bringing pain and misery to others. All the other soldiers have since then deserted. With too many defectors, Shinra is making do with those that remained."

She ran a hand across her face, feeling tired even though she had just woken up.

"This city is doomed, isn't it?"

"We all are if Meteor falls."

She glared at him.

"Sorry."

Shaking her head, she rubbed her eyes.

"Whatever. I guess this would be a good time to recuperate a bit. You look like you're getting better with that arm."

"It's still a challenge to do small movements but holding my rifle will not be an issue."

She let out a small snort.

"And it's not like you'll be going easy on Sephiroth."

"True."

A whirring interrupted their conversation, causing both to look over at the android. Suddenly, he leaped to his feet.

"We gotta go!"

Hearing the urgency in his voice, Vincent tensed.

"What's going on?

But Cait Sith was not listening. Though he was moving, his eyes were still distant. Whatever was going on, he was still receiving information. On its own accord, his mog bounced over and scooped up all the bags. Tifa was on her feet now.

"Cait?" She called out. "Cait, you there?"

She jumped back when the cat let out a sudden cry.

"What?! No! Wait! Reeve? REEVE!"

He blinked his eyes several times before looking around the room. It was the first time either of them had seen the happy-go-lucky android in such a panic.

"Reeve!" He tried again.

It was clear by now that something was going on at Shinra Headquarters.

"Did Shinra get to him?" Vincent asked urgently.

Cait looked over as if he was seeing his companions for the first time.

"Reeve…" he looked a little lost.

Then he shook his head vigorously.

"No! We have to get out of here! Now!"

With that, he scampered back onto his mog and began ushering the other two out of the apartment. While Tifa and Vincent were confused, there was no time for questions. Once they were all in the hallway, Cait Sith bounded down the stairs and out of the apartment complex. He had all but abandoned stealth, forcing them to run after him.

"What's going on?" Tifa shouted as they ran.

"No time! We're too close!"

With a bit of effort, Vincent caught up to the mog. She was surprised the bulky robot could even bounce that fast. It had angled itself closer to the ground to bound forward at an incredible pace. Cait Sith was barely holding on as it was.

"Too close to what?"

"Hojo's using the Sister Ray!"

Tifa nearly tripped when she heard this.

"What?! But it's not set up yet!" She shouted.

"I know! Follow me!"

As she ran, Tifa glanced over her shoulder. Past the apartment buildings, she could still see part of the cannon. There was no sign that it was being used, but it gave her an ominous feeling regardless. She redoubled her efforts to continue running. There could have been soldiers firing at them and they would not have noticed. They ran through empty streets and toward a large building with smashed windows. A broken sign indicated it was the Sector 3 bank. Looters had ransacked the bank early in the Meteor crisis. Now, only broken furniture and debris littered the ground around the building.

"In here! Quickly!" Cait Sith shouted as he entered the building through a shattered bay window.

Inside, the bulletproof glass protecting the tellers were also smashed. Heavy objects lay scattered across chipped tiles. Behind the counters was a large, sealed vault. Cait Sith launched his mog over the counters and toward the bank vault. There were signs that people had tried to break it open, but the heavy metal door remained firmly sealed. Cait Sith stood in front of the large, circular door. His eyes were narrowed in concentration.

"Did Rufus approve of this? What happened to Reeve?"

Vincent spoke as he also climbed through the debris and broken glass. Tifa vaulted over when he was through.

"What's going on, Cait?" She asked through breaths. "Why are we here?"

Cait Sith ignored them all as he continued working on the door. A moment later, there was a low tone. A dull clunk echoed throughout the empty bank. Then, with a grinding sound, massive bolts retracted as the vault door unlocked. Without another word, the mog pulled the door open. Seeing the robot struggling, Tifa and Vincent helped. Once there was enough room for the wider mog, Cait Sith gestured for them to stop.

"Inside! Help me close this!"

They did as he asked. Cait Sith followed them in and the door was slowly pulsed shut. Moments after the door closed with a muted thud, the world exploded into noise.

…

Aerith awoke with a gasp as a horrendous scream echoed through her mind. Eyes wide, she immediately rushed downstairs.

"MOM!" She shouted. "ZACK!"

The black-haired SOLDIER responded immediately, jumping up from the couch. But her mother was nowhere to be seen.

"What's going on?" Zack demanded. "What the hell was that just now?"

She did not reply as she made her way over to her mother's room and opened the door. Inside, she found Ifalna kneeling next to her bed, one hand clutching her head. Even as she approached, a wave of nausea swept over them, causing Aerith to stumble. When it passed, she looked back at her mother.

"Aerith?" She said weakly. "What happened?"

Aerith looked out the window, worry creasing her brow. Even now, the ground in the Promised Land was shaking violently. They winced as another cry echoed through their minds.

"I don't know," she said once it had passed. "The Planet… screamed? Something happened on the surface."

With that, she turned and rushed out of the house. Her destination was the Nexus in the heart of the city of white. There was something wrong and she suspected the Elders had something to do with it.

"Hey! Wait up!" Zack shouted as he gave chase.

Ifalna could only watch as the other two left the house. She could not shake the nervous feeling in her stomach as the ground continued to shift.

…

A/N: Thanks for reading.

That was a tough one. I'll admit I did not expect to expand so much on the Cetra. I hope I characterized them alright. More importantly, I hope I made Jenova a bit more rounded of a character.

Leave a review and let me know what you think! I promise the next chapter won't take a year!

…

Omake 19:

Barret sneezed as he passed yet another copse of flowering bushes.

"I'm starting to think this was a bad idea," Nanaki said as he surveyed the land. "Maybe you should set up a campsite outside the forest. I can navigate this place just fine."

"N-No way, ma- mahh- achoo!"

He sniffed heavily.

"You said it yourself, this place could be dangerous."

"Right. So much more dangerous than alerting everything of our presence…" Nanaki muttered.

The gunman blew his nose loudly into a brightly colored handkerchief. The sound drowned out Nanaki's complaints.

"What?" He asked. "Sorry, I didn't catch tha- achoo!"

"Never mind."

They continued along a vague path through the forest. Nanaki kept low to the ground, his keen senses on high alert. He was trying to catch a scent either Materia or signs of the adventuring parties from the past. Barret was doing his best to hinder the entire process. He crashed through the underbrush behind Nanaki, eyes watering from his worsening condition.

"You should've told me you had allergies," the feline said with a sigh. "We are making a lot of noise."

"How was I to know I had- achoo!"

Another sniff.

"Allergies? Corel was all rocks and stuff! And Midgar was just garbage."

He blew his nose particularly hard.

"Honk!"

The two stopped at the third voice. Barret turned to find a large feathered bird staring at him with curious eyes.

"The hell you lookin' at?" He said in a congested voice.

"Honk!"

Nanaki sat back on his haunches and tilted his head.

"Epiolnis, I believe they're called. They haven't been seen in hundreds of years," he said. "How fascinating."

"Get out of here, you scraggly-ass chocobo!" Barret shouted as he made a shooing motion with his hand.

"I do believe they were known to be carnivorous."

As if on cue, a sharp beak clamped down on his hand. Moments later, a high-pitched scream echoed throughout the Ancient Forest. Then came the gunfire.

(Bonus Note: I don't remember which fanfic I read years ago that had a one-off gag about Barret having horrible allergies in the Ancient Forest. Might have been Up a Treehouse by Kit Thespian. Internet cookies if you go confirm.)