To Love A One-winged Angel


Prologue--A Peek Into Aeris' Past





"Mommy, I'm scared,"Aeris murmured as they were led down the halls by Hojo.

"It's okay, sweetie,"Ifalna whispered reassuringly."We'll be fine..."

"Where's daddy?"Aeris asked.

"Daddy....... daddy has gone to a beautiful place above the sky,"Ifalna choked out.

He had left the Planet several hours before. Hojo and a few Shin-ra soldiers had broken into their home, shot Gast several times and had abducted Ifalna and the ten-year old Aeris.

"Where are we going?"Aeris whispered.

"I don't know, honey, but we'll be fine, I promise,"Ifalna said."Now be a good girl and don't speak."

Aeris nodded and shut her mouth. She trusted that her mother would make the right decision.

They were now approaching the laboratoy section of the Shinra building. Soldiers, at attention, stood outside the door of every room, protecting the scientists within from harm.

Aeris glanced around at the mutated freaks that floated in specimen tanks and clutched her mother's skirt tighter.

"Mommy, is that bad scientist going to turn us into one of those monsters?"Aeris asked fearfully.

"God only knows, darling,"Ifalna said.

Aeris nodded, secretly hoping that she and her mother WOULDN'T end up like those monsters.

They were approaching the elevator. A lone specimen tank stood against the wall to it's right. Something was inside it.

Aeris looked up as they neared it. To her great surprise, she found that the tank did not contain a monster.

A young boy who appeared to be a few years older than her was floating inside. He was completely nude, but Aeris didn't really notice that.

The boy inside had shoulder-length silver hair, and he was staring at her with the saddest, most beautiful green eyes Aeris had ever seen.

"You...."Aeris whispered."What's your name.....?"

The boy inside mouthed his name, and though Aeris couldn't hear what he had said, she felt in her soul that she knew his name.

"Sephiroth?"she repeated.

The boy nodded and placed his hand on the glass. Aeris placed her hand on his, though it was on the other side of the glass.

"What are you doing in there?"Aeris asked.

Again, though she couldn't hear what Sephiroth had said, she knew what he wanted to tell her.

He was there because of experimentation.

Tears filled her eyes as she thought of what kind of life this boy must have had. Though she had only met him, she felt as though she had known him forever. There was something about him...... something enigmatic, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was.

Aeris jumped as a soldier grabbed her arm and snarled at her.

"Stop lagging behind,"he snapped.

He started to drag her back to Hojo, who had gotten ahead of her by quite a bit. She glanced back up at Sephiroth, a look of terror on her face.

But of course, he couldn't help her. He was locked up in that dreadful tank.

She glanced back at him once before she was hauled around the corner.

Hojo and Ifalna had stopped outside the elevator. Hojo was tapping his foot impatiently. Ifalna was fiddling with her hands, her eyebrows knotted in worry.

"There you are!"Hojo exclaimed."Where did you get off to?"

"I saw that boy in the specimen tank,"Aeris explained."What is he doing in there?"

Hojo turned his back to her and pressed the "Up" button on the elevator. He didn't answer Aeris' question.

"Professor!"Aeris exclaimed."Why is that boy locked up in there? Who is he?"

"I don't think it's any of your concern,"Hojo replied slowly."But I will tell you since I will be terminating your miserable lives..."

Ifalna gasped."Professor, what do you mean-?"

"Be quiet, woman,"Hojo snarled, glaring at her through the thick lenses of his glasses."The boy in the tank is being used for the Jenova project."

"The Jenova project?"Aeris said questioningly."What is that?"

"It is something a child like you could not possibly comprehend,"Hojo said.

"Professor..."Ifalna trailed off.

"You two are the only two remaining Ancients,"Hojo continued."However, quite some time ago, another woman of the Cetra race was discovered. We called her Jenova."

"Jenova..."Aeris murmured.

"Jenova is no longer living,"Hojo eplained."But we extracted her cells and injected them into the womb of a pregnant woman before her child was born."

"That's terrible!"Ifalna exclaimed.

"You may think so, but it's all in the name of science,"Hojo said."The boy in the tank is my son. He is the one who was injected with the cells."

"He's not some kind of lab rat!"Aeris exploded."You're a terrible, terrible man!"

"Aeris, hush!"Ifalna hissed.

The elevator dinged to a stop on their floor. Hojo motioned for the two Ancients to get on before him. The door slid shut behind them.

"And what would you know about lab rats?"Hojo asked evilly."You are just a little girl. You don't know anything."

"But she's right, Professor,"Ifalna said, shocked by what she had just heard."How could you possibly think of doing that to a human being? How could you think of doing that to your SON?"

Hojo shook his head."You don't understand at all. You should have just minded your own business. I don't even understand why you wanted to know, but I guess it won't matter since you'll be dead soon anyway."

Aeris glanced fearfully up at her mother. Ifalna had blanched considerably, and she was gripping her daughter's hand so tight that her circulation was being cut off.

"Mama?"Aeris whispered."Are you alright?"

Ifalna looked down into her daughter's sparkling green eyes. They reminded her so much of Gast...

"I'm fine, sweetie,"Ifalna whispered, trying to be strong for Aeris."How about you?"

"I'm scared,"Aeris whimpered.

"Shh, honey, you're going to get out of here,"Ifalna murmured, praying her wishes would come true.

The elevator stopped on floor 65. They all piled off the elevator. Hojo led them to a huge room at the end of the hall.

"Here is my laboratory,"Hojo announcer, pushing the door open.

The walls were lined with specimen tanks. Inside were floating all kinds of disturbing creatures. Assorted weapons were piled up on a giant table in the centre of the room. A desk, which Ifalna ssumed was Hojo's, stood in the corner between two specimen tanks.

She held Aeris tighter to her as she noticed a gun lying on the top of the desk.

Hojo turned to the two guards that had accompanied them thus far and motioned for them to go away. They did so.

"What are you going to do with us, Professor?"Ifalna demanded.

Hojo strode over to his desk and picked the gun up. He turned slowly to the two Ancients.

"Now you die,"he said, grinning like a maniac.

He raised the gun and aimed it at Ifalna's head. Aeris whimpered and clutched her hand tighter.

"Goodbye,"Hojo said sweetly.

BANG! A gun went off. Hojo yowled in pain. His gun clattered to the floor.

"Son of a bitch!"he swore, clutching his bleeding right arm.

Ifalna looked around and saw what had shot Hojo. A silver-haired boy stood in the doorway. He also had a gun, which was still aimed at Hojo.

Aeris squealed in joy when she saw him.

"Sephiroth!"she exclaimed."What are you doing here?"

"I came to save you two,"he replied, keeping eyes on Hojo."Hurry and come with me."

"How do we know we can trust you?"Ifalna asked suspiciously."You are his son, after all."

Sephiroth looked up at her. She gasped when she saw his eyes. They were the most beautiful green she had ever seen. Even more beautiful than those of her late husband.

"He is my father, but I loathe him more than anything,"he said."Please, hurry and come with me. I know the way out."

Aeris looked at her mother.

"Mama, I trust him,"she said."Come with us."

"No!"Hojo howled."I won't let you! Not my specimens!"

He threw himself across the floor onto his gun. However, Sephiroth shot him in the hand before he could pick it up.

Hojo howled, clutching his bleeding hand to him.

"Damn you!"he shrieked."You are going to Hell, boy!"

Sephiroth stared distastefully at his father as he waited for Aeris and Ifalna to vacate the room.

"You disgust me,"he spat."I'll spare your life this once, but next time we meet....."

He made a slicing motion with his finger across his throat, then lowered his gun and ran from the room.

Aeris and Ifalna were waiting for him by the elevator.

"How do we get past the guards?"Ifalna asked worriedly."They're everywhere..."

"Do you have any materia?"Sephiroth asked.

"Just a Fire..."Ifalna whispered, fingering the small orb that lay in her pocket.

"Good,"Sephiroth said, nodding."What about you, Aeris?"

Aeris shook her head."No. I don't even know what a materia is..."

"Okay, then stay close to me,"Sephiroth ordered.

The elevator door slid open. Three Shin-Ra soldiers piled out.

"There are the prisoners!"

Sephiroth raised his gun and fired three shots. A second later, the soldiers lay dead at his feet.

Ifalna gawped at Sephiroth's aim. She wouldn't want him as her enemy.

"By the way, Sephiroth,"Aeris said as they got on the elevator."Where did you get your pants?"

Ifalna looked up sharply."I beg your pardon?"

"I stole them from a soldier I killed,"Sephiroth said casually, pressing the 1st floor button."I couldn't fight naked."

"Oh,"Aeris said."Right."

Ifalna decided right then and there that she would be keeping her eye on this silver-haired youth.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

The elevator stopped on the first floor. Aeris, Ifalna and Sephiroth got off, looking around warily for any sign of an enemy.

"The coast is clear,"Sephiroth said."Come on, let's go!"

He took off for the front door.

"Sephiroth, wait!"Aeris cried, starting after him.

"Darn it,"Ifalna hissed.

She started walking toward the front door. Sephiroth and Aeris had already made it there and were waiting impatiently.

"Mama, HURRY!"Aeris shouted."They'll be here any minute!"

"There they are!"

Sephiroth glanced up sharply. Two soldiers were standing on the second floor landing. Their guns were aimed at Ifalna.

"Hey, look out!"Sephiroth called.

Too late. A gunshot went off, and the next thing, Ifalna was sprawled on the floor.

"Mama!"Aeris screamed.

"Damn it!"Sephiroth swore, aiming his gun at the first soldier.

He pulled the trigger. The soldier fell over the railing and smashed into the floor. He took aim again, and a second body joined the first on the floor.

"Mama!"Aeris cried.

She ran over to her mother who was shakily getting to her feet.

"I'm alright, darling,"she said weakly."It's just a scratch..."

"Can ou walk?"Sephiroth asked.

"I think so,"Ifalna said, nodding.

"The train station is just outside,"Sephiroth announced."We're almost there. You'll be free agin!"

Aeris slung her arm around her mother and they followed Sephiroth. It was slow going, but they made it to the train station in no time.

They hopped into one of the cabins as soon as the train stopped. Aeris lay Ifalna down on one of the seats.

"Where will we go, mama?"Aeris asked excitedly.

Ifalna smiled weakly at her daughter."We'll just have to see, darling."

Sephiroth peered out the window.

"We're almost at the Sector Seven station,"he said."You can get off there."

"Where will you go?"Aeris asked.

"I'm going to join SOLDIER,"Sephiroth said."I will become strong and defeat Hojo."

"That's good,"Aeris murmured."Will I ever see you again?"

Sephiroth turned to face her. His green eyes sparkled when he smiled at her.

"Of course we will,"he said."It's our destiny. I can feel it."

Ifalna cried out in pain. Sephiroth looked at her in concern.

"Are you sure you're alright?"he asked worriedly.

"No,"Ifalna gasped.

"Mama, you're bleeding!"Aeris exclaimed.

"Maybe it's worse than I thought,"Ifalna said."I'm sorry, Aeris... WE won't be going anywhere....."

"Mama..."Aeris murmured.

The train stopped outside the Sector 7 station.

"It's time for you to go,"Sephiroth said."You'll be fine on your own, right?"

"I'll have to be,"Aeris murmured."Come on, mama...."

She slung her arm around Ifalna's waist and started to help her off the train. Sephiroth watched them from the window.

He sighed.

"Goodbye, Aeris..."he whispered."We'll meet again..."

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Aeris lay Ifalna down on the stone steps of the train station. Tears blurred her vision.

"Mama, what am I going to do without you?"she asked.

"You'll be fine,"Ifalna murmured.

A young woman who was walking mournfully down the platform glanced up and saw the tearful duo.

"Excuse me..."she said."Are you alright?"

"My mother..."Aeris murmured.

"Please..."Ifalna begged."Please take Aeris somewhere safe..."

The woman nodded."I will."

Ifalna smiled. Her eyes slowly closed as she lay still. Aeris blinked in disbelief.

"Mama!"she screamed."No, you can't leave me!"

She collapsed into the arms of her new "mother", sobbing uncontrollably.

"Shh..."the woman said soothingly."It's alright, now... Elmyra's here to take care of you..."

Aeris looked up into Elmyra's face.

"Elmyra..."she murmured."Can I call you "mom"?"

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Chapter 2--Wanted Poster


AN: Okay, people, this chapter is mainly a TifaxCloud chapter. Don't get upset because there's no AerisxSephiroth, or YuffiexVincent or anything. Have patience, I will be writing about them later on. I advise you not to skip ANY chapters, because you might miss something important.
I just want to explain a few things before I go on. First of all, this fic mostly revolves around Aeris and Sephiroth, however, the other half of the plot involves just about everyone involved in the Final Fantasy 7 game. Each character(or set of characters) has their own sub-plot, which I will attempt to intertwine with the main plot. I hope this fic actually turns out GOOD. Anyway, I'll get on with the story now.....



The Present



The alarm clock went off. Cloud Strife pretended he didn't hear it, but as the incessant beeping continued, he decided he'd had enough.

He opened one sleepy, Mako blue eye and groaned. He was too tired for this. He had been up late last night trying to fix a window in his living room that had had a baseball thrown through it.

A body next to him shifted on the bed, and a tanned arm slid around his waist.

"Turn that thing off, Cloud,"Tifa murmured.

The beeping stopped. Cloud rolled over, shaking Tifa's arm off him, and stood up. Tifa rolled over and opened one eye at him.

"Couldn't you sleep in just a bit longer?"she pouted.

"No,"Cloud said, pulling his pants on."I have to get to work on the basement. Do you know how many rats are down there?"

Tifa started laughing. Cloud frowned, trying to understand what was so funny. He folded his arms across his chest and mockingly gave her a stern look.

"I think the rats can wait a little longer,"she said, her laugh reduced to a giggle."Honestly, Cloud. It doesn't take all day to exterminate a few rats."

"And what would you know about exterminating rats?"Cloud questioned.

"Not much,"Tifa shrugged."But I KNOW it doesn't take a whole day to exterminate a bunch of rats."

"Must I remind you that I HATE rats,"Cloud stated, buttoning up the front of his shirt."So it'll take ME all day."

Tifa giggled again. Cloud smiled and sat on the bed next to her.

"Did I tell you I love you?"he said softly.

"Every day,"Tifa replied.

"Yeah, I know,"Cloud said sheepishly."I'll have to stop that."

"Says who?"Tifa asked playfully.

"Says me,"Cloud replied.

He kissed her lightly on the cheek before standing up. He ran a hand threw his hair and drew in a shaky breath.

"Well, it's time to go and confront those rats,"he said.

"You mean the ones in the basement or the ones that threw a baseball through our window?"Tifa teased.

"Now, Tifa,"Cloud said sternly, placing his hands on his hips."That wasn't very nice of you."

"I know,"Tifa giggled."But they broke the window of our new house. I can't help but be upset about it."

Cloud rolled his eyes and blew her a kiss before leaving the room.

He and Tifa had just moved into their new house a few days earlier. They had lived together for two years, ever since Sephiroth had been defeated.

They had moved back to Nibelheim, where they had been born. At first they had lived in a one-bedroom apartment, but after discovering that they were to be expecting a little one, they had decided to move into a bigger house.

Of course, word had gotten around that Tifa was pregnant; most of the elderly people in the village thought that it was scandalous, seeing how they weren't even married yet.

However, Cloud loved Tifa with all his heart; in fact, he was planning to propose to her very soon. He didn't need to hear the rumours about them spread around the town.

Having thought about this for a moment, Cloud picked up his tools of extermination from the hall closet: his Buster Sword and a Fire materia.

It wasn't HIS fault he didn't know anything about extermination...

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Tifa didn't get up until she heard Cloud going after the rats in the basement. She always knew when he was at it when he started screaming.

She heard an explosion that made the house rock the foundation, but thought nothing of it. She was used to that by now.

Though Cloud DID have a tendency to get a bit crazy when it came to rats.

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and sat up. She yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Her stomach was rumbling incessantly.

"Hmmm..."she grunted thoughtfully, getting to her feet."Must be hungry."

She slipped her feet into her slippers and threw Cloud's bathrobe over her shoulders. it was ten sizes too big for her, but she always felt cozy in it. The scent of Cloud's skin remained on it, and she inhaled it, feeling a bit more comfortable in the oversized garment.

She padded downstairs to the kitchen. The sounds of killing that came from the basement increased a notch as she opened the refridgerator.

She pulled out the bread and popped a couple pieces in the toaster. She lay two plates, a knife and the strawberry jam on the table. Cloud loved strawberry jam.

She waited a few minutes until the toast popped up. She quickly put the burning pieces on the plates, then called for Cloud.

He emerged from the basement a few moments later. His spiky blonde hair was all messed up, and his finger was bleeding from where a rat had bitten him.

"Now you're having a war?"Tifa joked when she saw him.

"Whatever gave you that idea?"Cloud asked.

"You just look like it,"Tifa said, shaking her head."Alright, hurry up, the toast is getting cold."

They sat down at the table. Cloud quickly spread some jam on his toast and started to eat it.

"Are you happy, Tif?"he asked suddenly.

"Of course I am,"Tifa said, bewildered."Why wouldn't I be?"

"I was just wondering,"Cloud said."It's nothing."

"Okay,"Tifa said, still a bit confused."Do you want the paper?"

"Yes, please,"Cloud replied, wolfing down the rest of his toast. He took a swing of his orange juice and took the newspaper from Tifa.

He didn't find the newspaper particularly interesting; he usually just read the comics.

Tifa took his plate and put it in the sink."Anything interesting in the news today?"

"Not so far,"Cloud murmured, skimming the headlines as he flipped each page."Just stuff about the rebuilding of Corel...."

They were both silent for a few minutes. The only sounds were the turning of the newspaper pages and the sqeuaking of the dishcloth on a plate.

The silence was broken as Cloud's glass smashed on the ground. The orange juice that it had contained splattered on the walls.

Tifa looked up in surprise."Cloud, what...?"

Cloud's face had become as white as a sheet. His eyes were glued onto a page of the newspaper.

Tifa ran to his side and peered into the newspaper as well. Her jaw dropped when she saw what had bothered Cloud.

A wanted poster was pasted underneath an article about a biking accident. The eight members of AVALANCHE stared up at her from a picture underneath the word WANTED.

"Oh my gosh..."Tifa gasped."What is this, Cloud?"

Cloud slowly closed the newspaper. His face was ashen.

"We're wanted for the murder of Rufus Shin-Ra,"he whispered.

"We didn't kill Rufus!"Tifa exploded."Diamond Weapon killed him!"

"I know that!"Cloud snapped."But we're the ones who are being blamed!"

"Blamed by who?"Tifa demanded, her eyes blazing with anger."When I find them, I'm going to rip them limb-"

"It's Rufus' daughter,"Cloud said.

"What?"Tifa gasped."He had a daughter?"

"It seems that way,"Cloud murmured thoughtfully."But the question is, how old is she? Rufus wasn't very old when he died."

"He must have been in his twenties,"Tifa said."His daughter can't be more than five years old!"

Clouyd didn't reply. He massaged his temples with his fingertips.

"What are we going to do, Cloud?"Tifa asked."We can't just sit here and let her come for us!"

"What is a little girl going to do to us?"Cloud snapped."Shin-Ra's armies were destroyed long ago."

Tifa shrank back, hurt by the tone of Cloud's voice. He had never spoken to her like that before.

"Okay,"she said meekly."I'm sorry, Cloud..."

Cloud looked sharply up at her. His expression softened when he saw the look on her face. He stood up and pulled her into his arms.

"I'm sorry, Tifa,"he murmured, burying his face in her hair."I just don't know what to do."

"It's okay, Cloud,"Tifa replied."I don't mind..."

Cloud drew away from her and held her at arm's distance. He looked her in the eye.

"Tifa, tell me the truth,"he said slowly."Are you happy with me?"

"Of course, Cloud!"she exclaimed."I've never been happier!"

Cloud nodded."I hope you mean that. I just want you to be happy."

"I am happy, Cloud,"Tifa said, smiling."Don't worry."

"Okay,"Cloud said."Now... I have to get back to those rats."

Tifa smiled weakly as Cloud passed her and ran downstairs to the basement. She waited a few moments until she heard him chasing the rats, then she picked up the paper.

She looked at the picture and couldn't help but have a bad feeling.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Chapter 3--Conrad, The Silver Chocobo




The electronic doors swooshed open as Hojo approached them. He stepped into his lab, which had been secretly rebuilt since he had fled from the battle with Cloud.

The interior of Hojo's lab had changed much over the past two years, as had the Professor himself; his skin now had a greenish quality to it, and his long dark hair hung in strands about his gaunt face. He had shrunk a bit, and his stained lab coat hung loosely upon his shoulders.

He glanced around his new lab. His desk still stood in the corner, however only a few specimen tanks remained intact. Only one of them was occupied.

He strode over to the occupied tank. His newest specimen hovered, unconscious, in the light blue liquid. His long, silver hair floated about his pale face. His eyes were shut.

"Hmmm..."Hojo grunted, gently touching the pane of glass that separated him from his son."How much longer will it take...?"

He turned and walked back to his desk. He plopped down in his chair and flipped open the file that contained what little information on Sephiroth he could find.

It had been recorded that he had been killed by Cloud Strife in the Nibelheim Reactor seven years previously; it had also been tabulated that he had been killed by Cloud again in the North Crater. Since he was a scientist, he knew that Sephiroth's blood type was A. He also knew his birthday, the 16th of January; Sephiroth was, after all, his son.

But that was the extent of his knowledge; he knew nothing of where Sephiroth had stayed after escaping from the laboratory. Even though SOLDIER was part of Shin-Ra Inc, that sector of the company was housed elsewhere on the continent. He had been unable to find the boy afterwards.

But thinking about the day Sephiroth had helped Aeris and Ifalna escape made his blood boil. He had wanted to throttle the boy for shooting him; he had never felt so much pain in his life.

He had gotten over it, however; after hearing about how strong Sephiroth had become, he knew he stood no chance against the madman.

But he had wanted to help his son; it was better to be at the right hand of the Devil than in his path.

He quietly shut the folder and leaned back in his chair. Now he only had to wait until Sephiroth was reanimated to achieve what he had sought for his whole life...

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Aeris sighed as she set down her watering can. She wiped the beads of sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand.

The day was hot and she had spent the better half of it outside. She had been tending to the plants in her garden. The winter had been cold and they had suffered greatly.

She sat down on the chair on her porch to rest. She had only been living again for about a year, and she was still getting used to it.

The weapon seller near Gongaga had rebuilt her at Cloud's request. However, she hadn't wished to return to Nibelheim with Cloud and Tifa; she couldn't bear to see the two of them together when she still had feelings for Cloud.

She had instead moved to Kalm. She worked at the local greenhouse, and most people who knew her there said she had a Green Thumb.

She sighed as her white kitten, Muffy, jumped on her lap. She purred contentedly as Aeris gently stroked her fur.

"You're a cutie, aren't you Muffy?"Aeris gushed, cuddling the little white cat.

She purred in response and rubbed her head against Aeris' arm. The feeling of the cat's soft fur rubbing against her arm made her shiver.

She looked up at the sky, which was blue and cloudless. Everyone was happy now that Sephiroth was gone. He had vanished from everyone's memories- everyone's except Aeris', that is.

She frowned as she thought about the god-like being who had wrought havoc upon the Planet; the very same man who had run her through with his sword and killed her.

She didn't think she'd ever forgive him for what he had done. She still loathed him, even though she knew he was dead and gone.

Or so she hoped...

She sighed and pushed those morbid thoughts from her mind. Muffy had fallen asleep on her lap.

Aeris picked up the tiny cat and lay it down on the bench as she stood up. She stretched and picked up her watering can so she could resume her gardening.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Hojo tapped his fingers impatiently on the top of his desk. He had waited for three days for Sephiroth's reanimation to finish... and it still wasn't done yet.

However, the gauge to the left of the tank showed that the reanimation would only take a few more minutes.

But Hojo didn't think he would be able to wait for a few more minutes. He had already waited long enough for his dreams to become reality, and he wasn't willing to wait much longer.

He rested his head in his arms and closed his eyes. If he could just be patient for a few more minutes...

He glanced up at the gauge to the left of the specimen tank. The red ink on the inside of the glass tube had risen to the 99% mark. Hojo stood up quickly, knocking his chair over in the process, and stepped over to the outside of the tank.

The blue liquid on the inside of the tank started to drain. There was a click and a hiss as the door on the front slid open.

Hojo watched in anticipation as Sephiroth's eyes slowly opened. They stared at him blankly until the man realized he was looking at Hojo.

Hojo gazed in awe at his son. He hadn't changed a bit. His silver hair was as long and voluminous as it had ever been, though it was presently covered in a bluish gunk. His Mako green eyes glared fiercely at the scientist, his muscles rippling under his fair skin as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

"Hojo,"he said dangerously."I assume it was you who brought me back."

"Yes, my son,"Hojo said excitedly."Now we can rule the world together, as gods!"

"What gives you the impression that I would ever consider working with flith like you?"Sephiroth snarled.

He stepped out of the tank, his hair dripping the blue slime onto the ground. He balled his fists at his side and advanced on Hojo, oblivious to the fact that he was wearing not a single stitch of clothing.

"You will do as I ask or I will terminate your life,"Hojo snapped, pulling out a revolver and aiming it at Sephiroth's face."Now what was that you were saying?"

Sephiroth froze. Normally, he would not have feared the scientist, but at the moment he was unarmed and without materia.

"What do you want with me?"he demanded.

Hojo kept the gun aimed at Sephiroth's face."I will tell you in due time. But first, I have a mission for you."

Sephiroth nodded. He would agree to go along with Hojo's plans - at first. But after he got the Masamune back, the first thing he would do would be to run Hojo through with his sword.

"What do you have in mind?"Sephiroth asked curiously.

"I want you to go to Kalm and bring the Cetra girl, Aeris, to me,"Hojo ordered, lowering the gun."But understand that I want her unharmed. If you harm even one hair on her head, I will make you wish you were never born. You understand?"

Sephiroth growled deep in his throat, but nodded. The only way he could get rid of Hojo was to go along with his plans.

"Good,"Hojo said."I'm glad we've come to an understanding. Now, for your clothes..."

Hojo pulled open the top drawer of his desk and searched through some papers before he pulled out Sephiroth's pants and cloak.

He turned back to Sephiroth and gave him the clothes. Sephiroth took them, all the while giving Hojo a blank stare.

"Where's the Masamune?"he demanded.

"Yes, well..."Hojo said."I'll be keeping that until you come back with the girl."

"What?!"Sephiroth roared.

"I want to make sure you keep your part of the bargain,"Hojo said coldly."I will give you a suitable weapon and some materia."

"I don't go ANYWHERE without the Masamune!"Sephiroth bellowed."Give it to me, Hojo!"

Hojo shook his head."No. What do you think I am, stupid?"

Sephiroth almost said yes, but he bit his tongue to keep himself from opening his mouth. Insulting Hojo wouldn't help him get the Masamune back.

"You will take the weapon I provide for you,"Hojo said slowly."You will do it or face the consequences."

Sephiroth glared at the scientist before pulling on his pants and cloak. He looked around the room for his boots, or at least a pair of shoes.

He found them sitting next to Hojo's desk. He grabbed them and jammed his feet into them before taking the sword from Hojo's hands.

"Here are some materias for you,"Hojo said, handing Sephiroth three green orbs."They are Cure, Fire and Heal."

"Are they mastered?"Sephiroth demanded.

"No."

Sephiroth scowled in disgust. He quickly loaded the materia into the slots of the sword before sheathing it.

"Where do I go again?"Sephiroth demanded.

"Kalm,"Hojo replied."Now remember, Sephiroth... I want her unharmed."

"I remember,"Sephiroth snapped."And I'll be back for the Masamune."

He kicked the lab door open and stalked from the room. He found the elevator and pressed the down button. He leaned against the wall, trying to calm his rage.

He swore that when he got his Masamune back, he would gut that filthy wretch who called himself a scientist. He hated Hojo so much he could taste it.

However, he couldn't kill Hojo until he got his Masamune back. He had no idea where it was hidden, and slaughtering Hojo wouldn't help.

He tapped his foot impatiently on the ground. Finally, having had enough of waiting for the elevator, he decided to take the stairs.

Outside, the night was cool. The stars were bright in the sky. A cool breeze blew through his hair. He brushed away a few wisps that floated in his face.

He would first have to find transportation. It would take him at least a day to reach Kalm by foot, and he wasn't willing to waste any time in getting his precious Masamune back.

A wark came from around the corner. Sephiroth looked around suspiciously before following the source of the wark.

He gasped when he saw the chocobo. It had the most beautiful silver feathers he had ever seen. The chocobo was looking at him intently, shock written in it's intense green eyes.

"Oh, hello,"it said cheerfully, recovering from it's daze."I take you to be the Great Sephiroth, correct?"

Sephiroth would have fainted, but never was the fainting type. His jaw instead dropped to the ground.

"You can talk,"he said flatly.

The chocobo ruffled it's feathers in irritation."Well, of course I can talk! Haven't you ever seen a talking chocobo before?"

Sephiroth blinked."I can't say that I have, actually."

"My word,"the chocobo said."How very disappointing. But enough of the chit-chat. My name is Conrad."

"Conrad,"Sephiroth repeated blankly.

"Yes, that's right,"Conrad said irritably."Now, I believe Hojo sent you on a mission to find a certain Cetra."

"How did you know?"Sephiroth asked suspiciously.

"I know everything, and that is all you need to be told,"Conrad replied."Now quickly, get on. I'll take you to Kalm."

Sephiroth didn't budge. Conrad blinked and ruffled his feathers again.

"I said, get on!"he barked."Are you just ging to stand there like an idiot all day?"

"What did you say?"Sephiroth growled, fingering the hilt of his sword.

Conrad blinked."Oh, I guess you COULD kill me. But that means no transportation for you."

Sephiroth frowned."Are you sure you know where Kalm is?"

Conrad rolled his eyes."What do you think I am, a moron? Of COURSE I know where Kalm is! Now, get on!"

Sephiroth hesitated no longer. He jumped on the back of the silver bird and gripped the reins around it's neck.

"Hold on tightly!"Conrad exclaimed.

And they were off.

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Chapter 4--Captured By The One-winged Angel



Barret leaned forward on his shover, wiping sweat away from his brow. The sun beat down on the back of his head, making his job no easier.

"Hey, Barret!"called one of his fellow workers."Get ta work, ya lazy bum!"

Barret grumbled and resumed shovelling dirt out of a hole in which was to be used as a foundation for a new house in North Corel.

After Barret had returned from AVALANCHE's battle with Sephiroth, he had managed to get everyone to pitch in in an attempt to rebuild the mining town. They had been working for almost two years, and finally, the last house was almost complete.

Barret had taken back his daughter from Elmyra after the crisis of the Planet was over, and they had returned to North Corel together.

Everyone had forgiven him after he had valiantly fought against Sephiroth and won, and they were willing to aid him in an attempt to rebuild the town.

But it had never been easy; they had had to work through the rainiest of days and the hottest of afternoons, never stopping or slowing down.

Their work had paid off, however. They now lived in a new Corel. Any traces of the dump it had been before had been erased. Tall, white houses stood where tents had once been. Roads had been erected where, previously, no car had dared to venture.

Barret's thoughts were interrupted as his six-year old daughter, Marlene, ran toward him, calling his name.

"Daddy, daddy, I'm hungry!"she called.

Barret dropped his shovel and held out his arms so the little girl could jump into them. He swung her onto his shoulder, where she was usually perched.

"Can you wait just a little bit longer?"Barret asked."I have some work to get done yet."

"But daddy..."Marlene started.

"No buts,"Barret said."I'll be in soon. You can survive for another half hour, can't you?"

Marlene pouted, but obediently nodded her head.

"Will you be working this afternoon?"she asked.

"I'll have to if I want to get this house finished,"Barret said.

"Oh,"Marlene said.

"In a few days I'll be done completely, and we can go to the Gold Saucer,"Barret promised."Is that alright with you?"

"The Gold Saucer?"Marlene exclaimed, her eyes lighting up."Yes, daddy!!! I wanna go to the Gold Saucer!"

"Then be a good girl, and let daddy finish his work,"Barret said."I'll be home in a bit."

Marlene slid off her father's broad shoulders and ran back toward the house. He watched her until she closed the door behind her, then picked up his shovel and resumed working.

He didn't know how long he had been working when he heard a plane flying overhead. He thought this was a bit strange, seeing how the only planes on the Planet belonged to Shin-Ra Incorporated.

He glanced up, and, to his immense surprise, he saw a plane circling overhead, the Shin-Ra logo painted on the side.

"Now, just what the fuck...?"Barret muttered, leaning on his shovel again."I thought all them Shin-Ra were dead..."

A commotion had started among the rest of the workers as well. It was plain to see that they were just as, if not more, confused than Barret was.

His confusion turned to disbelief as the bottom of the plane opened up and a bomb fell out.

"Holy shit!"he roared."Everyone, run for cover!"

There was mass confusion. Everyone was running in different directions, tripping on each other and falling.

Barret started running toward his house. The bomb exploded a few feet from where he had previously stood.

He was sent flying into the side of his house. The last thing he saw was Marlene poke her head out the door before his world swirled into darkness.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Aeris set down her watering can on her kitchen counter and collapsed at one of the chairs by the table. She pulled her red coat off and slid it on the back of the chair.

She had never felt so hot in her life. Her face was red from where the scorching hot sun had burnt it, making it itch like crazy.

She picked up what remained of her water glass from earlier that morning and gulped it down. It didn't refresh her in the least.

Her kitten was snoring on the arm of a chair in the living room. Aeris picked her up and carried her upstairs to her room.

She sat down on the chair by her dressing table and unbound her hair. It cascaded down over her shoulders, mostly in a tangled knot. Sighing, Aeris picked up her comb and started going at it.

Her cat yawned and rolled over, falling asleep again. The small hand on the clock slowly ticked toward seven o' clock.

Aeris put her brush down on the dresser and tied her hair back into a loose ponytail. She yawned, and covered her mouth in surprise.

She glanced out the window to see that it was getting dark. The streetlight outside her window had already turned on, bathing her garden in an eerie light.

"I might as well go to sleep,"she murmured to herself."I'm more tired than I thought."

She opened the door of her dresser and pulled out a short T-shirt. She quickly unbuttoned her dress and slipped the T-shirt over her head.

She crawled in under the covers, shifting Muffy over a little, and turned off her bedside lamp. It didn't take her long to fall asleep.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

She didn't know how long she had been sleeping when a noise from downstairs woke her up. She noticed that her cat was awake as well, it's ears perked and alert.

"Muffy?"Aeris whispered."Did you hear that too?"

She froze as she heard the sound again. The sound of her front door creaking open.

In a flash, she was out of bed and on her feet. Muffy jumped down onto the floor, her nails clicking sharply on the wooden floor.

Aeris grabbed the baseball bat she kept hidden under her bed and opened her bedroom door. Her cat slipped out into the hall and jumped onto the bookshelf at the top of the stairs.

Everything was silent. The only sound was the ticking of the clock in the hall.

She looked around warily, gripping the baseball bat tighter, and crept over to the stairs. The first step creaked as she put her foot on it. Aeris winced as the loud sound echoed in the silence.

She tiptoed down the rest of the stairs without incident. At the bottom, she looked around carefully before crossing the hall to the front door.

She discovered that it was locked tightly, as she had left it when she had gone to bed hours earlier.

She frowned and turned around. The living room, on her left, was dark and quiet. She slowly walked over to the room and peered around the corner.

However, no intruder was hiding behind the couch. Aeris sighed in relief and turned back around to go upstairs- only to find Sephiroth blocking her way.

She screamed and swung the bat at his face. He grabbed the end of the bat in his hand and wrenched it out of her grip.

Aeris stumbled back a few steps as Sephiroth tossed the bat away. It landed in a pot holding a mini palm tree.

She looked around, desperate for something to use as a weapon. She grabbed the nearest flower vase and threw it in his general direction.

It smashed into the wall next to his head. Sephiroth smirked and stepped forward.

Aeris backed up into a chair.

"Stay back, Sephiroth!"she exclaimed."Stay back, or else I'll-"

"Or you'll what?"Sephiroth said mockingly, in a low, yet melodious voice."There is nothing you can do to harm me, and you know it."

Aeris growled and lunged to the left. She tore open the basement door and thundered down the stairs.

She could hear Sephiroth laughing back upstairs in the living room, and quickly slammed the bolt down over the door.

She looked around wildly for anything she could use as a weapon. She ran over to the shelves by the wall and tore through the boxes, but all she found were plastic flowers.

"Damn it!"she swore, on the verge of tears.

She ran over to the window at the other end of the room and started trying to pry it open.

However, the window was rusted, and it wouldn't budge. She looked back up at the stairs, angry at having cornered herself in the basement.

Her only hope was to get back upstairs to call someone for help. And to do that, she would have to get past Sephiroth, who was most likely waiting at the door for her.

She crept back to the top of the stairs and pressed her ear against the door. She heard not a sound.

She quickly pulled the bolt off the door and peered out into the hall. It was empty.

She quietly slipped out of the basement and crept down the hall. The front hall was empty, along with the landing at the top of the stairs.

She ran up the stairs, not really caring if Sephiroth heard her, because she would most likely find a weapon of use in her bathroom.

Her cat wasn't on the bookshelf when she reached the top floor hallway. She frowned, thinking this strange. Muffy didn't like strangers, and would always hide in the bookshelf until they were gone.

"Muffy?"Aeris hissed.

The cat didn't appear. Aeris shrugged and opened the door. The bathroom was completely empty.

She quickly shut the door and locked it. She almost had a heart attack when she looked in the mirror.

She had been wearing her underwear and a T-shirt that had grown to small for her whilst she had been fighting Sephiroth.

She could have kicked herself. Of all the embarrassing predicaments.

She shook her head and opened the cabinet above the sink. She pulled out a set of razorblades, praying they would come in useful.

She didn't have much time to think as the door to the bathroom fell off it's hinges.

Aeris screamed as her black-clad nemesis strode into the tiny room.

"Ah, there you are,"he said evilly."What a quaint little place to hide."

He reached out to grab her, but Aeris reacted faster. She lashed out blindly with the razorblades. She knew she had slashed Sephiroth when he cried out in pain.

Before he had time to react, Aeris dove under his legs and tore down the hall to the spare bedroom. The window next to the bed opened up unto the roof.

Aeris quickly opened it and clambered out onto the shingling. She could hear Sephiroth behind her.

She got to her feet and cautiously started walking down to the other end of the roof to the drainage pipe. She prayed that Sephiroth wasn't used to walking on roofs.

She glanced back to see him right behind her. He didn't look in the least bit tired.

"Go away!"she shouted at him.

"Not a chance,"Sephiroth replied.

Aeris quickly started moving again, noticing that he was within an arm's length of her. She started moving faster, a terrified groan escaping her lips.

A hand suddenly clamped down on her arm. Panicked, Aeris whirled around, flailing madly. Sephiroth lost his grip on her, and she fell toward the roof's edge.

With a grunt, she landed on the edge of the roof. She was unable to stop herself from falling over the edge.

She grabbed onto the edge of the roof for dear life. Sephiroth scrambled over to her and grabbed onto her wrists.

"Let go of me!"Aeris shrieked, trying to pull her hand out of his reach.

"If I did, you'd die,"Sephiroth snarled."Do you want that?"

"No..."Aeris said softly."But what do YOU care?"

"I have my reasons,"Sephiroth grunted, hauling her over the edge."Just keep quiet and do what I tell you."

Aeris kept quiet and allowed him to pull her back to the safety of the roof.

But inside, her blood boiled. No way was she going to let the man that had once killed her barge into her house and start giving her orders.

Once she was back on the roof, Sephiroth stood back and pulled her to her feet.

"Hey, Sephiroth,"Aeris said mysteriously.

"What is it?"Sephiroth said in annoyance."I haven't got all day."

"Come a bit closer,"Aeris said."I want you to take a look at something."

Sephiroth leaned closer- and Aeris flung her knee up. She struck him right in the bread box.

Sephiroth didn't even blink. A grin slowly inched up his face.

"What?"Aeris gasped."But how...?"

"I am different than the others,"Sephiroth proclaimed."I have no weaknesses. Now, if you're done with your games, may I suggest that we return to the Shin-Ra building?"

"No,"Aeris said."I will not return to the Shin-Ra building with you. Get out of my house."

Sephiroth shook his head."Why couldn't you just be obedient? I guess it has to come down to this..."

He closed his eyes and started muttering a curse under his breath. His fingers made odd motions in the air.

He opened his eyes again.

"Mystify."

Aeris suddenly couldn't move. She felt so weak, and her limbs felt like jelly. She collapsed forward, but before she could hit the ground, Sephiroth collected her in his arms and jumped off the roof.

He whistled and the most beautiful silver chocobo Aeris had ever seen emerged from around the corner.

Aeris thought the chocobo was looking at her as though he recognized her- but perhaps that was because of her delirium.

Finally, giving up, she rested her head on Sephiroth's shoulder and closed her eyes.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

"What in the name of God took you so long?"Conrad demanded, looking a bit miffed."I thought you had gotten lost in there or something."

"She's a fighter, I'll tell you that much,"Sephiroth muttered, pulling Aeris onto the chocobo in front of him. She murmured a few things in her sleep."But we haven't got the time to discuss such trivial matters. To Shin-Ra we go!"

"Um... General Sephiroth?"Conrad said hesitantly.

"Hmmm?"

"I am not feeling too well,"he said."Perhaps we could stop somewhere for the night?"

"Yes, I suppose we should,"Sephiroth murmured."I am rather tired myself, to tell the truth."

"And the route we took from Midgar is blocked,"Conrad continued."Our journey will take us a day longer than expected. We will have to travel through the Mythril Mines."

"Yes, whatever, I don't care,"Sephiroth said in irritation."Just stop somewhere already."

Conrad frowned and stopped under a mountain. Sephiroth pulled Aeris off and laid her on the ground. Conrad crept closer to her to keep her warm, as he noticed she was wearing only her underwear.

Sephiroth lay down as well, and turned his back to the chocobo and the girl.

Conrad shivered and rested his head on Aeris' arm. She was so beautiful, he thought, much more beautiful than the Aeris he knew... But he couldn't tell her who he was, or it would ruin everything.

It would ruin everything he had strived for, everything he had.... It would ruin his life and his future. He only hoped that he had what it took to change the lives of those he loved and those he had lost...

He closed his brilliant green eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.

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