Omg the final act! The ultimate show down! The Act that will determine Aerith's fate! Will she give up, stay here and become pregnant? And what about Cloud? Will Sephiroth ignore this in silence?

Just incase, here's links 2 the previous Acts...

Act I
http://z8.invisionfree.com/Cloud_x_Aerith/...?showtopic=5992
Act II
http://z8.invisionfree.com/Cloud_x_Aerith/...?showtopic=6138
Act III
http://z8.invisionfree.com/Cloud_x_Aerith/...?showtopic=6220
Act IV
http://z8.invisionfree.com/Cloud_x_Aerith/...?showtopic=6435


Act V
Chapter Nineteen: Restored Hope
There was something wet over her hand. But she wasn’t conscious enough to notice exactly what. “Leave me alone...Just leave me here to die...” But whatever it was, it was still there, Aerith woke up a bit more but still kept her eyes closed. They felt a little funny. Soon she noticed that something was ‘licking’ her hand. “Mrrmmm...” she opened her eyes and saw flaxen paws and a black nose near her hand behind the bars. “-!!” Aerith’s head shot up. “Cloud! You’re alright!!” The wolf looked down at her and tried to nuzzle his head to her between the bars to reach her, making small whimper sounds. Aerith noticed her ribbon was still tied to his leg and, over where his wound was, had dried blood stained into the bright blue colour. She didn’t mind the tears this time. She looked around the place and then smiled at him. “You found me!” she cried before laughing faintly yet joyfully. She sat up and pointed out the key that was still on the table. The lamp next to it was lit. Cloud noticed it and lifted his forepaws on the chair next to the table and reached his head out to the key.

“That’s it!” Aerith encouraged. Cloud picked up the key in his mouth and shifted back down to Aerith. He dropped the key into her waiting hand. She leaned against the bars and circled her arms around to unlock the door from the other side. When she managed to unlock it, she threw the key and straight away slid the door open. The first thing she did after that was throw her arms around Cloud’s neck. “Cloud!”

She cried happily. “I was so worried about you!” She pulled back to look at Cloud but kept her hands on his neck. “sob!” “I can’t believe I was so close to let Hojo win!” The first glimpse of Cloud had instantaneously restored her hope to escape in a flash! “You didn’t give up on me...I won’t give up on you!” Aerith smiled. She hugged him again. “Thank you, Cloud!” After the two’s reunion, Aerith sighed. She let him go because she noticed a note that wasn’t there before... Sephiroth had come here when she fell asleep...

“Aerithanya, are you well? Let me tell you about the location you are currently in.

This place is known as the Water Tower. That cursed Hojo has confined you in this tower. It disheartens me to say that there are no exits left in the Water Tower. However...all is not lost for there is a way to ‘create’ an exit. Somewhere at the top of the tower lies an item known as Magisterium. After you obtain it, use it on the diorama. That will open a path that connects the Water Tower to the House of Truth where I reside. Also, avoid Hojo at all costs. He is, for lack of a better word, dangerous. Yet I am sure your “wolf” will protect you. Oh, if only I weren’t cursed with this useless fossil of a body, I would run to your aid. Also, fate hasn’t given me that chance.

I pray for you safety, Aerithanya. Sephiroth”

The thoughts of what she had recently read about Sephiroth in Hojo’s journal came to mind but she soon enough shook her head to forget. Who was she to think against him when he has done nothing but help her? He must have been stressing himself judging by how old he must be yet he is still helping her. Just incase, she hid the note under one of the boxes and stood up. “Come on, Cloud...” she whispered to the “wolf”. “Let’s get out of here before Hojo realizes I’ve escaped and that you’re here...!”
~*~

Even though Aerith’s sight was clear, her eyes still felt clouded. The two rushed down the stone hall and found a small path. The floor, walls and ceiling where all made of earth with metal pipes around. Aerith kept her guards up, of course Hojo was dangerous! She didn’t need to be told that. Just then, she heard THAT voice behind her. “Aerith!”

The two turned around but there was no one there. But Cloud started to growl ferociously as he stepped forward. He looked up and snapped. Aerith blinked in confusion. Suddenly, right in front of Cloud, Hojo mysteriously appeared. He looked angry and swung an arm down at Cloud. “Damn you, you worthless mutt!” He missed as Cloud made another snap up at him. Aerith gasped to see Hojo but gasped again when he looked at her and somehow disappeared right before her!

She looked around. How did he do that? “Ahh, the formula is working then.” She heard him say. “It works directly on the eyes. You can’t see my, can you?” Aerith was starting to get scared again. She felt a hand pull against her ear! “Ah!” “You are mine! I own you!” He appeared right in front of her face which made her jump back. “You are mine! I own you!” Hojo repeated before vanishing again. She whimpered as she looked around, listening to Hojo laugh like he was in triumph.

Aerith and Cloud turned to run and Aerith heard him say, “There’s nowhere to run!” Aerith shut her eyes tight in an attempt to ignore that comment. No. She couldn’t just give up or die. Not when Cloud had finally found her. She couldn’t do that to him. She had a promise to keep. They ran through the opening of this area and turned right...yet Aerith collided into something and fell on the floor. She looked up and saw Debilitas looking down at her. “!!” He reached down and easily lifted her up. “Ahh!” She was so tiny compared to him yet unlike before, his behaviour was gentle. He turned around and then placed her on her feet. After that, she watched him reach into his pocket and take out a key attached to a rough string necklace. He shoved it into her hands. The force pushed her back a little.

She looked at the gift and noticed something. The patterns and shape the key was designed in looked like...the door patterns at the entrance of Gainsborough Castle. She looked up to him. “...you?” Debilitas growled and thrust his arms rapidly, signaling her to run. She turned around and saw a long spiral path climbing up the walls of the Water Tower with platform floors. She ran ahead but stopped. She faced Debilitas with concern. Yet he just repeated himself. Cloud behind her made a noise but Aerith didn’t think it was right to leave Debilitas there. She saw him jump and turn around. Hojo must have been there. But she couldn’t see him anywhere!

Debilitas lifted his arms as if blocking something in front of him. He was acting like the way he did chasing her and Cloud only this time, he seemed more angry than “playful”. Her heart was pounding. “Debilitas! Get out of my way!” she heard Hojo yell. Debilitas shouted out load to his master and stepped forward. For Aerith’s sight, she saw him appear in front of Debilitas, reaching out for something. “I don’t have time for this!” He pulled out his gun and then disappeared. “GASP! NO!!!”

BANG!!!

Aerith screamed hysterically when she saw Debilitas’ head blast from the gunshot and helplessly watched his massive body land on the floor with a loud thud. Aerith couldn’t breathe. Tears were falling down her face as blood flowed across the floor and her grip tightened on the key Debilitas had just given her. The way he looked at her in the chapel repeated in her head. “He’s just a child! He’s just a child!” How could Hojo do this!? “I HATE YOOUUU!!!” She placed the key over her neck and turned to run. The metal key bouncing against her chest hurt but she had to ignore it. Aerith and Cloud ran up the swirling, steep floor. Hojo actually killed Debilitas! She couldn’t believe it! He killed Debilitas! Why was this still going on? Would it ever end? Would she have to spend the rest of her life here running away?
~*~

The place was, indeed, VERY old. Between the metal floors and platforms were covered with cobwebs and fungi. They ran up the first two stories but the there was a huge gap to the next path. They were stuck there. Aerith quickly looked around for anything that could help. Hojo’s disappearing game didn’t help either. They had to move fast or Hojo could catch up already without them knowing. Aerith noticed Cloud run up a small path and called over, he was pointing out a lever. She ran up to it and pulled it to the opposite side it was positioned in. The floor began to rumble and they watched the platform turn and connect to the other path. The two quickly ran down and up the new path. They ran up three more stories and Aerith was already getting tired. There was a massive distance between each floor. She fell to her knees and panted heavily but Cloud was nudging her to get up. She swallowed the lump in her throat and pushed herself forward.

They ran across the sixth platform but Aerith screamed when she felt a strong grip pull her back by her long hair and she collided into Hojo who she couldn’t see. The back of her head stung in pain when she felt her hair being yanked against her roots. She was surprised that a chunk of her hair wasn’t ripped out. She struggled against the invisible force. Hojo’s voice was cold behind her. “You aren’t going anywhere, Aerith!” Before Hojo could do anything after that, Aerith felt herself fall as Cloud jumped on Hojo’s back. Aerith turned and shifted back, so saw Hojo appear with Cloud scratching and biting his back. Aerith stood up and moved away and watched. She hated not knowing what to do. Hojo snarled and bent himself forward to make Cloud fall off. As Cloud landed on the platform near the edge, Hojo kicked his side and Cloud fell over to the platform below!

“NOOOO!!” Aerith turned to run down to him but Hojo grabbed her! “AH!! LET GO! CLOUD, GET UP!!!” Aerith called as she fought back against Hojo, who disappeared from sight, and watched Cloud struggle to stand up. Hojo dragged Aerith up to the next platform. He threw her to the floor and she used her hands to land first so she wouldn’t hurt herself. She turned her head everywhere but she couldn’t see Hojo. “I will wait no more!” It seemed like he was circling her. Aerith didn’t dare to move. “I don’t know how your friend got his way in here but this time I will make sure I will kill him!” She looked up when she saw Hojo appear in front of her. “Right after I deal with you!” Hojo reached down for her. Aerith lifted an arm up to protect herself but saw Cloud run up behind at a rapid speed and bite Hojo’s back...but at the same time as soon as he caught up...saw the material over Hojo’s outfit lift as though someone had grabbed him on their own. But there was no one there. Was there another invisible person!?

Hojo was mysteriously thrown back and Cloud rushed pat him and stood in front of her. Hojo’s form was fading and he chuckled down to the growling wolf. “Hmm... It’s all starting to make sense now... You emotions seem to affect your original human form. I can see such fury burning in those sapphire eyes of yours. Funny that you seem to care for this young woman when you admitted to your master that you couldn’t give a damn before.” Aerith looked at Cloud when she heard Hojo’s words. “I do hope your formula isn’t fading as well, CLOUD...” After that, Cloud just pounced to attack Hojo again but the man jumped back. Then Cloud swung his head around as he landed beside Hojo and bit his leg! “ARG!!” Aerith stood up using the support of the pillar between every floor. Hojo kicked Cloud off with his other leg but fell back and fell over the edge! Aerith rushed to Cloud to see if he was alright but he seemed fine. He stood up quick enough. Aerith hugged Cloud close to her.

Feeling concerned, Aerith let go of him and stood up. She looked over where Hojo fell and saw him grunt while slowly standing up, holding onto the fresh wound near his ankle. When he vanished out of sight, Aerith quickly turned to run. Cloud followed her up. They were almost near the top. When they reached the last platform but stopped to find not one...but SIX Luminessants swirling around in a circle! They all seemed to pick up her presence and floated towards her! There was no way they could go back down! Holding her breath, Aerith readied herself and charged forward, jumping and ducking, avoiding each one! Cloud jumped over them easily. Aerith looked back and was astonished that she managed to dodge them.

When they made it to the other side, they ran up the path and through a small opening where they saw a blue light shine through. They made their way through the opening and Aerith stared in admiration at a large, faintly glowing, blue Planetarium. Below under their feet looked like a map of the very universe! She could see stars and galaxies, it looked so beautiful. Funny that it looked 3D when the floor was flat. Around the place, there were circular platforms, all with marks of the Planets like the ones she saw on those doors. Except for the one in the centre, that had an image of the Earth.
Cloud walked ahead towards it and lifted his head in a way to signal her to come over. Trusting him completely, Aerith jogged over and then down at him. “What should I do?” Cloud pointed his head to the platform and Aerith thought that she would have to stand on it...so that was what she did.

As soon as she stepped on with both feet, the platform began to light up. The other platforms did the same afterwards and Aerith felt a breeze flowing through the place. The surrounding platforms began to turn and circle them. Aerith watched them in amazement... The feeling inside was making her feel as though it was “her” making this device activate. Her ability to make the very system turn. One by one, the platforms stopped in line with the Earth platform and when the final one stopped, they heard a loud chime.
They looked up when they saw the ceiling shift. Dust was falling down and huge spiral stairs was coming down, spinning down at the same time. To avoid getting crushed, Aerith and Cloud ran out of the way and watched the revealed path land securely to the ground. Looking up, Aerith could see a small area with a door and Aerith knew what that was for. The two ran up the stairs and through the door.
~*~

Finally, they were at the top. Aerith panted from all that running where Cloud was just fine. Aerith looked to the distance as she slowly walked around. She was staring at the snow covered mountains, at the forest down below, at the fading away stars...that meant morning was coming soon. Aerith couldn’t help but feel like morning was coming. She never felt anything like this before. She could actually...hear the mountains and trees...feel the water flow... Aerith looked down and saw a huge lake surround them. She was becoming a little freaked out to hear faint whispers. It was like she was being drawn closer to nature. She was freaked...but...it also felt natural to her and she didn’t know why. Was this another of her powers? Investigating the place further, she could just barely see a massive temple across the lake through the dark night. “That must be the House of Truth...” Aerith mumbled.

Aerith looked around and found the diorama Sephiroth mentioned in the note. On the floor in front of it looked like a tiny bridge. She picked it up and found the word “Magisterium” engraved underneath. The diorama was a model of this area. There was a pool of water with wooden structures of the Water Tower on one side and the House of Truth at the other. “Create and exit...” Aerith stepped up and placed the bridge in between the models. When it was fitted in place, she felt the ground below rumble and walked up to the edge where a piece of the banister was missing. From beneath the waters, she saw a massive bridge rise up, connecting the Water Tower and House of Truth together, just like Sephiroth said. Aerith just smiled...only a little.

“AERITH!!!” Aerith jumped and turned around. Hojo had caught up with them but she still couldn’t see him. She leaned back against the banister so he wouldn’t grab her from behind. At the same time, she checked Cloud and listened out to pinpoint where he was. Hojo’s voice sounded more livid than ever. “Why must you defy me!? Why do you run!?” Left. She looked left and saw Hojo appear...his face was burning red from such anger. Aerith shuddered as she stared at him intensely. Hojo was fading but this time he didn’t disappear. The stuffy feeling in her eyes was slowly clearing up.

Instead of pursuing Aerith, he turned to Cloud and pulled his gun out. “This time, I’ll make sure that you don’t get up!” He took a shot at Cloud but the wolf jumped back, the attack blasting the floor right in front of his paws! The noise echoed loudly through the air. Outraged, Aerith ran up to Hojo and grabbed his arms, trying to take the gun from him. “Leave him alone, Hojo!” “Grr! Shut up!” Hojo pulled shoved her off of him and then whacked her with the arm! “Ah!” Aerith fell beside the diorama and bruised her arm against the corner it. While Hojo was standing upright after attacking Aerith, Cloud was growling more ferociously than ever! He ran to Hojo and jumped on him. Straight away, he bit onto his chest as they fell to the ground. Cloud started to attack Hojo viciously.

Aerith was stunned covered her mouth in shock as she watched. She had never seen Cloud so brutal and violent. Hojo screamed in terrible pain! Blood was going everywhere but Cloud continued attacking. Hojo tried to fight back but it was useless. Before she knew it, Cloud had finally stopped and jumped off. Hojo’s clothes was ripped into shreds and soaked in blood. Aerith could see the horrible, large wounds Cloud had given him. Hojo staggered to his feet but he was wobbling over balance. Cloud growled at Hojo, flashing his sharp teeth that had blood as well had his muzzle. Hojo was stepping unintentionally backwards and reaching out to Aerith. Aerith just watched with wide eyes and was shaking. Hojo was moving closer to the edge where the missing banister piece was. He would fall if he kept going...

“A-Aee...rriith!” Aerith stared at him...but she saw her father reaching out to her...saw her father coughing up blood. Aerith’s quivering arm reached out to him...but when Hojo reached the edge, she snapped out of her frightened daze. This man was NOT her father. This man killed her father...and her mother... Not to mention killed Debilitas, shot Cloud... Who knows how many have suffered underneath this man’s power. Hojo’s eyes opened wide to see Aerith give him a mock look and then closed her eyes tight while holding her hands together...waiting for him to fall over and die! Hojo slipped over the edge...

“AAEEERRIIIIIIITTHH!!!!!”

THUD!!!

Aerith’s entire body jumped as soon as she heard Hojo’s body reach contact to the ground eight stories down below. It was so easy to hear the bones and muscles splatter. Her emerald eyes slowly opened...her teeth were pushing against each other...and her lips trembled. Against her will, her legs moved on their own towards the edge. She looked down but instantly turned away the second she saw Hojo’s corpse and the amount of blood. Soon she felt her own legs wobble. She stepped backwards until she fell to the floor. “He’s gone... He’s gone... He can’t hurt me anymore... He can’t hurt ANYONE anymore...”

She was taking this death pretty well...or so she thought. She did something she never expected...she smiled and then started to quietly...laugh! She threw her head back up towards the full moon and laughed out load for all to hear. But before long other emotions were taking over. All these people getting hurt or killed just because of her. Her laughter was starting to choke but she tried hard to push another through her throat to deny the other feeling. Tried to deny it to stay strong. But she was just too vulnerable. She couldn’t take it. Finally giving up...she let out an even louder scream out of her lungs; so loud that it startled the wolf who was staring at her the whole time. Then she pounded her fist to the floor. “DAMN IT!! DAMN IT!! DAMN IT!!!”
Aerith stopped and was breathing heavily. She had to calm down. It was finally over. She no longer had to feel paranoid about anyone stalking her anymore. She didn’t have to be afraid anymore. No more tears. It was finally over! She looked at Cloud for a while and then smiled. “Sorry... I hope I didn’t scare you there...!” Aerith stood up and looked at the House of Truth across the lake while moving her hair out of her eyes as the wind blew. “Come on, Cloud. Let’s go meet Sephiroth...” So the two began to make their way all the way down the Water Tower.
~*~

No sooner than Aerith closed the door after she and Cloud walked through, a man covered in a white sheet, holding onto a six-foot, thin sword, was crawling across the bridge towards Hojo. He was sucking saliva into his mouth and heaved heavily during his struggle. “Hojo...you were always...incomplete-...” He rested by Hojo’s side. “Now, I will have your Azoth. You have not died in vain.” He lifted the sword up and it shimmered into a pure black colour like darkness itself. Then he struck it through Hojo’s jagged chest and streams of pale green and blue light began to rise from the corpse and drain into the sword. Hojo’s body was shaking and his open eyes were turning pure white.
~*~

ooooo, dodgy there eh?

Hojo died (serves him right)! The part with Aerith smiling after his death was a little unexpected despite this being an AU fic. I think it's a nice touch; I dislike it when people make her out to be a perfect angel. The FF7 Aerith certainly wouldn't be grieving over Hojo's death, neither would she be beating herself up over it.

Yippee! Sephiroth's here and getting younger! (although I don't know how Hojo has the Azoth that Sephiroth said he's taking). Honestly, I'm sure the next chapters will be so much fun!

Sorry 4 the wait, ive been pretty busy and i also hard a hard time with thinking how this chapter ws going to work. As a Sephiroth fan, i kick myself over what will happen ><
but i chose Sephiroth 2 take Lorenzo's role bcoz of what will happen in the nxt chapter ^_^

Anyone want 2 see what Aerith's companion looks like?
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/512816...me+-in%3Ascraps

Let's see why Sephiroth has been helping Aerith...

Chapter Twenty: Warped Obsession
Aerith didn’t know what to feel as she and Cloud made their way down. Should she be feeling happy or remorseful? Not even looking at Debilitas’ dead body helped despite witness Hojo killing him. Aerith held the key that was still around her neck in her hand. She still couldn’t understand Debilitas’ change of heart when he first thought of her as a doll, scaring her to death every time he approached...and then suddenly want to help and protect her. But he ha paid the ultimate price choosing to protect her from Hojo. This had given her another reason to go on. Debilitas wanted her to be free...same as her parents... Of course they would have kept all of this a secret from her. Because they loved her. They wouldn’t have wanted her to go through what she has. So would go on and finally go home...that is what she would do...in honour of their wishes. She and Cloud walked out the entrance doors of the Water Tower but Aerith froze still looking at Hojo. She was confused to see a couple of black feathers around the body...they looked like the ones she saw in Gainsborough Castle.

Either way, she didn’t like the sight of his pure white eyes, like they had rolled back. But thinking of her parents, vengeance had been claimed...but it didn’t taste sweet compared to what she had heard with the figure of speech. Before moving on, Aerith knelt down at Hojo’s side...and started to push him across the bridge, towards the edge. She didn’t know why she was doing this but felt that it was the right thing to do. Nearing the side of the bridge, she pushed him off and watched his body land in the water below and sink into the dark bottom. She stood up feeling a brand new feeling inside...something that seemed to match the soon coming dawn sky she could see in the distance between two of the mountains.

The wind blew again and Aerith turned to the House of Truth again, staring at the door at the other side of the bridge. Cloud made a little sound looking up at her and she smiled and nodded to him in reply. They walked across the long bridge and Aerith took in a deep breath while thinking over what needed to be done. Basically...meet Sephiroth, discuss how to get Cloud to turn back to normal...and go home. “Why do I sound like I’m kidding myself?” She noticed Cloud wasn’t comfortable as they got closer and closer to the House of Truth. It was telling her that going inside was a bad idea...but where else could they go? At last, they reached the House of Truth. Aerith stared at the door knob for a moment, feeling greatly nervous. She took in another deep breath in and out before going in.

No doubt that the first room would be a large hall. The place was just completely written with the word ‘mystical’ as she had expected. The ground they were on was a narrow path but Aerith could see two small places down below connected to a set of stairs on each side. She decided to investigate these places since they looked small so she first went down to the left side. She did not approve to see a statue of a stuffed bear looking at her. It looked a little spooky since the place was only lit up with small red lights. The middle had a long oddly shaped table and there were long uncomfortable looking couches lying against the walls. There was a door slightly open it lead to a storage room when Aerith had a peep inside. The first thing she saw was a massive sword. “Hey...that’s the sword that guy had in that film!” Aerith was a little surprised as Cloud rushed past her and straight towards it.

Aerith walked to his side and examined it. “Wow...it’s bigger than I thought. I could never lift this thing up! It must weigh TWICE more than I do.” There was a small note beside it on the wall saying “Traitor’s BUSTER SWORD.” “Traitor, huh?” Aerith had a look around the place and spotted a photo of “her” on the wall nearby. It had to have been the photo mentioned before. Aerith recognized the time it was taken... She was 15 wearing her high school uniform in a park sitting near a patch of white flowers smiling happily to the camera. That was when she and her friends went to the park and they were having fun taking photos. When they got developed one of them was missing. So it got stolen? Aerith felt disturbed knowing that her whole life had been spied on and she didn’t suspect a thing! .....“-?” Aerith spotted something.

“My dress!” Sitting lying there on a chair was the white dress Tifa gave her. Thinking to herself, she looked down to the surgical gown she was wearing at the moment...and then thought about the reaction of her friends when she would arrive home. There was no way she could tell anyone about this. Clones, people turning into animals, powers... Everyone would think that she had gone crazy... She was surprised that she hadn’t turn insane already. Then again...maybe she was already going mad... Why else would she laugh after Hojo’s death?

“Hmm...” If she were to come home wearing this...she would be getting all kinds of questions she would have a hard time answering. Deciding to lighten up her mood, she picked up the dress and lied it over her form and faced Cloud. “Do you think it would be less suspicious of I came home wearing this, Cloud?” Cloud stared at her for a minute and then turned around and sat down, as though he was giving her privacy. She smiled and rubbed his head. “Well you are quite the gentleman!” And so she undid the ties of the medical outfit and then lifted it off over her head. “Urg! Gross!”
She changed back into the white dress. She sighed and then straightened her outfit, feeling better already. “All finished.” Aerith and Cloud were just about to leave the room but she stopped when she saw a note on the door that wasn’t there before. It was folded and had the clear name “Aerithanya” on it. The last note from Sephiroth, of course...

“Aerithanya, I am most proud of you. I am sure this has been very hard for you and even YOU would understand that the only way for you to gain freedom was to have Hojo killed. Do not worry, cry or fear no more. I am your saviour. Come and find me. I am waiting for you.”

“What other choice do I have? ...sigh...Ready, Cloud?” Now she was feeling even more nervous as they walked back up the stairs. Aerith looked down the opposite side but didn’t go down. It looked the same as the other only there was no door and there was a box filled with dynamite lying against a weak part of the wall. Aerith turned back to the place and saw two doors close to each other at the back of the place. They went through one but Aerith thought that the other door was a waste since it was in her face. She turned her head to the right down the long hallway and saw a single door at the other side.
The hallway looked scary since the walls had statues of body parts and frightened faces sticking out as if reaching out to escape. Cloud stared at the door immensely as if he knew “what” was through the door. “I guess that’s where Sephiroth is...” They walked down and Aerith was confused that Cloud was walking faster but moved in front of Aerith, making sure he was in front. There was something weird going on and Aerith didn’t like it. They stood in front of the door and looked at each other. “I’d...better go in first...” Aerith said, looking at the blood stained ribbon tied on Cloud’s leg.

Aerith slowly opened the door and looked around. The back of the room was extremely dark yet the front was very bright. There were book shelves implanted into the walls, stacked up with books that were all pocking out. As Aerith stepped inside, the door was slowly closing on its own behind her. Before Cloud could rush, it quietly closed on him. Aerith looked around and was shocked to see loads of photographs of her on the wall, all with notes attached to the sides with information about them. Photos of her as a baby up to now grown up. “What is this!?”

She her eyes followed the patterns and then found photos of her parents close by. Even photos of that boy she played with in Nibelheim 12 years ago. She stood there admiring a photo of him with who must have been his mother, who had her arms wrapped around him lovingly. She had short blonde hair and blue eyes like his...and was wearing the same choker he gave her. She looked so beautiful. Aerith reached up to her neck to touch the stone attached to the choker. Nearby, there was a photo of this woman with longer hair and this time, pregnant...kneeling down in front of the cage in the Water Tower with Ifalna inside.
Just then she heard something at the back of the room! “Who’s there!?” Aerith quickly advanced backwards to the door but was surprised to have found it closed. Leaning against it, she saw someone covered in a white sheet sitting in a wheelchair move a little closer in the darkness. The wheels made an awful creaking sound as they slowly spun around. Sephiroth.

“Poor Aerithanya... Hojo and his creations put you through quite a bit, didn’t they?” said Sephiroth, admiring the patches of dirt on her body, dried blood, her long messy hair and a few scrapped skin marks on her bare legs. Behind the door, Aerith could hear Cloud scratching the door desperately and making barking and snapping sounds. Aerith was just about to open the door to let him in until Sephiroth spoke again. “Unlike your father,” “--!!” “He was always a troublemaker. A bad apple.” The old man sucked saliva into his mouth and breathed in heavily. “I, Jenova Sephiroth Gainsborough, created them both... Hojo and Gast...” Sephiroth continued to suck in more saliva and Aerith pulled a disgusted face to the noise but didn’t dare to speak, to wanting to seem rude.

“But... that damn Cetra, Ifalna...she stole Gast away from me!” He heaved furiously. Aerith’s anxious expression turned into an angered one. She did NOT like how he spoke about her mother! Sephiroth wheeled a little closer into the light. Underneath the sheet over his head, she could see long yet weak strands of grey hair hanging out from underneath. “Of course, then you came along, my dear... My dear Aerithanya. Fate brought you back to me! And now...you and your Azoth are mine! All mine!” Sephiroth started to laugh maniacally. Aerith felt her eyes widen in shock. Those words struck Aerith cold and deeply. “No! No! No! No! NO!!!” She screamed louder and faster each time while gripping onto her hair in frustration. “No! Not again! Please don’t do this to me!” Sephiroth was making his way over to her as he continued laughing. “NOOO-----!!!!”

Aerith ran out of the room and quickly shut it behind her. She ran away as fast as she could and Cloud rushed to catch up. “No! Why!? I thought he was on my side! I thought he only wanted to help me! Why is he doing this!?” She couldn’t believe it! All this time he was just helping her to gain her trust! All this time he was after her too! As they ran down the hallway, Aerith jumped to hear the door burst open and shrieked to see Sephiroth following them, crawling on the floor at an extremely fast speed! You would think that he would get caught up with that sheet over him but he had no trouble whatsoever. They reached the other end and ran through one of the doors. Aerith looked around, where else could they go? She ran down one of the stairs and found the boxes of dynamite seen before. She looked around for a place to hide to hide but Sephiroth had already caught up.

“Azoth!” Sephiroth almost grabbed her legs but Cloud bit his back. Aerith fell over when she jumped to avoid Sephiroth. When she fell to the floor, she noticed a big candle sitting on the couch. She then turned to look at a small fire torch on the wall...and then at the box of dynamite... “Cloud, stop!” Cloud let go and moved back away. Sephiroth turned and looked at him. He chuckled. “Is it fun for you to be her little pet?” Cloud growled at Sephiroth. While Sephiroth was busy taunting him, Aerith snuck past to the fire torch and began to light the candle. When the small flame past onto the candle, she threw it past Sephiroth to the stack of boxes close to him.

This caught his attention and he turned to look at her. She stepped sideways until he quickly crawled towards her! She turned to run to Cloud but he grabbed her ankles and she fell flat on her face! “AH!!” At the same time she felt her energy stir...and being drained into Sephiroth. “Aerithanya...” He whispered. But he noticed something. She wasn't struggling and Cloud didn’t make a move to help. Then he heard a crackling sound behind him. When he looked...he saw the candle’s fire spreading along the wooden boxes with the word “DYNAMITE” written across each one! “-!! AERITHANYA!!?”—

BOOM!!!

As soon as the boxes blew up, Aerith wiggles her legs free and quickly rushed back, lifting her arms and legs up to protect herself. When silence had returned, Aerith lowered her arms and legs and looked to see... Sephiroth had been crushed underneath the fallen ruble of the wall. Sephiroth’s hands were reached out and were almost touching her feet. She quickly pulled herself back away from him. “Uh!-Nurg!” She stood up and dusted the dirt off herself. Cloud quickly rushed to her side to see if she was alright. She scratched behind his ear to assure him that she was. She looked down at Sephiroth. Now she hated herself even more! She didn’t exactly intend on crushing him but... if she would let Sephiroth again... she couldn’t afford to become a specimen again.

She noticed that he wasn’t dead. His old body was just barely rising up and down. Cloud was growling angrily down to him and then nudged her leg to follow him. Behind the ruble from the blast, was a long corridor. Another secret path. She looked down at Sephiroth for a moment. Was it right or wrong to leave him there? She debated the thought until she heard the wolf call out to her. She had noticed that he was acting a bit more serious than usual. She sighed sadly and then followed him.

Now what were they going to do? She felt so stupid for falling for Sephiroth’s lies. Of course she had been suspicious about why he wanted to help her but... Aerith shook her head. Why else would Sephiroth want to help? What about Cloud? It’s obvious that Sephiroth won’t help them now. “But...I can’t leave him like this!” Aerith stopped walking and so did Cloud afterwards. He turned his head back to look at her. Her sad features continued to increase. She hated having to hold promises that were impossible to keep. For a moment, she closed her eyes and held the key around her neck in concentration. Cloud turned to face her directly. “If Debilitas gave me this key...then there has to be a short cut back to the castle. Maybe we can find something there. I don’t know how these experiments and stuff work...but...I can learn...We can go back to the castle and find a way to change you back there... Then afterwards we can leave and go home!” She lowered her arm looked down at Cloud. “Sorry to hold us up...”
~*~

As they continued to walk down the dark corridor, Aerith wondered about Cloud was like as a human. What he looked like, what kind of person was he like, how did he get involved with all this... Did Hojo name him Cloud? She had a feeling about that with the collar back in the dungeon. Soon enough they found the next door from the other side and they found a large room that reminded her on the mines. There was rocks and earth everywhere with two machines opposite each other. One had a long flat conveyor belt attached to it.

There was a door at the other side so they made their way towards it...until the door behind suddenly burst open! “gasp!” Sephiroth came into the room and didn’t look at all happy. He looked up at Aerith. “...Aerithanya...” After that he charged for her! Cloud stood in between them and held onto his shoulder after biting it hard! Aerith stepped back a little, unsure of what to do. She stood there and watched the two struggle. The sheet used to cover Sephiroth’s form was tearing more and started to become soaked in blood. Cloud stopped and stepped back. Sephiroth coughed and heaved from the attack he had just received. Cloud suddenly started to use his head to nudge against Aerith’s leg to push her towards one of the machines. He was making sounds...like he was trying to tell her something. Aerith looked down at him with fear and confusion. “What? I don’t understand!” Cloud pushed her harder until she bumped against it.

Aerith looked at the machine. “You want me to get this working?” Understanding what Cloud wanted yet unsure of what he was planning, Aerith decide to trust him and to as he said. As Cloud readied himself to protect Aerith when Sephiroth was on the move again, Aerith faced the machine and looked at the different levers and buttons. What should she do? The machine looked old and rusty; like it hadn’t been used in years. Eyeing each lever and each button carefully, she tried to pull the levers but they wouldn’t budge, the buttons wouldn’t press down. So she took a step back and started to kick the machine. After the attack, she saw a light bulb behind a dirty cover flicker a little. So she kicked again a few more times. Gradually, after one more kick, the light lit up and mechanical noises were heard, followed by a noise of the other machine behind her becoming activated. The conveyor belt started to move and rocks being dragged by it were becoming crushed by a rolling boulder attached to the machine.

She turned around and gasped in shock to see Cloud growling and dragging Sephiroth onto the active conveyor belt. The wolf jumped back before he could get dragged down with Sephiroth. Cloud moved to Aerith’s side and sat down to watch. Aerith knelt beside him. “Cloud!” Because of Sephiroth’s handicapped body, there was no way he could get off the machine that would drag him to his death! He tried to shift back as he looked fearfully at the boulder. “Aerithanya! Aeri-Aerithanya-!” He cried. “Aerithan-AERITHANYAA!!!” It was too late. Aerith screamed in fright and hid her face on Cloud’s neck. Aerith’s grip tightened as she heard bones and flesh being easily crushed under the boulder. Cloud, however, watched with sharp eyes. The boulder suddenly stopped. A key fell out from somewhere. When the machine died down, Aerith started to tremble.

She loosened her hold on Cloud and lifted her head a little. She felt too scared to open her eyes. Cloud shifted to the side a little and looked at her. Aerith lifted her head a little higher and then looked at him in disbelief. Shocked of the way the wolf would plan to kill. The intense gaze from his eyes looking at hers told her that he knew what she was thinking. He rubbed his head against her shoulder in reassurance. Aerith rubbed her hand along his back and looked away from the remains of Sephiroth. She didn’t have the strength to look at the blood and everything else that has been splattered.

Cloud then stood on all fours and walked towards the blood stained conveyor belt. He picked up the key with his mouth and walked back to Aerith, who was still scared to look. He stood on front of her and handed her the key. She opened her eyes to look at it and saw a mark she recognized in the Planetarium. The mark ‘Sol’. After a moment of trying to recover...she stood up on wobbly legs. The pressure surely did keep on building more on more. Aerith shut her eyes and bit her lip hard so she wouldn’t act like the way she did with Hojo’s death. She bit unintentionally hard so it felt a little bruised...but sanity felt like it was worth it. When she opened her eyes, she turned to look at the opposite door and saw the ‘Sol’ mark...the match to the key. Aerith wasn’t sure if it was right to either stay where she was or move on. What to do...what to even think! ... She had relied on Sephiroth to guide way her through. And now this... but... She looked down at Cloud and remembered something from Hojo’s notes...

“I don’t know how Sephiroth was able to raise such a nuisance.”

“... Raised... If Sephiroth had taken care of the wolf before when he was a human...why would Cloud want him killed?” It seemed like Cloud was the one who made the decision for Aerith since he walked up to the Sol door and looked at her, signaling her to come over since he wasn’t capable of unlocking it. They have been through a lot together. No doubt he had been through more than her... so she nodded and unlocked the door. She opened the door and had the urge to look back although she didn’t want to. She turned her head over her shoulder and saw blood flow from the machine. The sight made her turn away and then made her find herself sobbing in guilt. She slowly followed Cloud into the next room.
They were in a hall with two doors close to them...when she looked right she could see one more down a corridor with surrounding walls that was almost shell-like. The doors like a large white stone with a stain-glass window pattern. When she eyed it carefully, she could make out an image of Gainsborough Castle on it. “!!” She still had the key around her neck! This was their chance to get out! She ran down towards it but the door was closed so tightly like it was welded shut. It was almost as if it was sealed via some special power...

Cloud was looking around the room slowly. His eyes looked around the room like there was something dangerous nearby. Aerith turned back after a sigh of defeat. One those other two doors must have something to get this door open! She looked at Cloud who looked at her. “I think we should try this door...” She said to him while pointing to the door in front of them. She walked past Cloud and opened the door. She looked down after walking inside, thinking the he had followed her but was puzzled to see no wolf. She looked back and saw Cloud lying in the centre of the hall. He was making noises...like he was...in...pain! “Cloud! What’s wrong!?” She ran after him but the door between them was suddenly winging shut on its own! “NO!!”

SLAM!!!
~*~

Aerith pulled and turned against the door knob as hard as she could but it wouldn’t open! Aerith bashed her fist against it in frustration. She panicked as she heard Cloud cry in pain through his whimpers and howls! “Hang in there, Cloud! I’m coming!!” yelled Aerith, hoping he could hear her. Her fear for him grew even more when she thought she could hear something else behind the door... It sounded like there was a man there...groaning in pain in time with Cloud! What was going on there!? Who could that person be!? How could this person even get there!? Then she heard another voice...but this time it sounded like it was coming out of thin air! A young male voice echoed to her....

“What are you doing, Aerithanya? Just where do you intend to run?”

Aerith looked around fearfully to find where this voice was coming from...but there was nothing at all to help. She had another go to get the door open but no luck. There was only one option. “Don’t worry! I’ll find another way to come back! I promise! Whoever you are...please take care of Cloud!” Aerith turned around to find anything. She didn’t know who this first person was but he was all she had to keep Cloud safe...but what if he-the second male spoke again...

“I can see you clearly from here, Aerithanya... At last! You are mine!”
Aerith froze still when she heard that. She was tired of hearing that...these people saying that like she was property. She looked ahead and found a second door. Hoping that this would lead a way back to the hall, she rushed towards it...trying hard not to pay attention to this voice. She opened the door but stopped to find a wall in her face!

“Ha! Looks like a dead end, dear. How unfortunate.”

She was starting to find this taunting voice irritating. She glared upward with annoyance. She turned around to see if there was a key or an item or anything that would help her get out. As she took a step forward, the nearby bookshelf suddenly fell from the wall! Aerith jumped back as she yelped to prevent getting crushed.

“That was a close one, wasn’t it Aerithanya?”
Aerith growled angrily and kicked the side of the bookshelf.

“No need to get so upset, my dear...”
“Shut up!” Aerith mumbled. She looked around the room, looking for anything as fast as she could as though she was given a time limit. The voice continued to taunt her...
“You simply cannot understand.” “Everything I do is for the Great Truth!”

Aerith’s eyes narrowed as she continued to fail to find something to benefit her.

“Oh, how I love thee, Cetra Azoth.”......“Why must you run from me?”

Click

Aerith heard the door leading back to the hall open! When she turned back to it, while listening to its awful creaking noise... she gasped in shock to see the hall...was now a completely different room and no one was there! “Cloud...where are you...?” Aerith kept a hand close to herself and stepped back...feeling more fear rise and well up inside her chest. The voice spoke again.

“Come to me, Aerithanya... Come to me, Aerithanya!”

Aerith looked around. There was nowhere else to go...this person was blocking all paths but leaving one so she had no choice to go his way. “It’s the intruder! It has to be him! Everyone else is dead!” Having no choice, Aerith stepped the different room which was circular shaped but had some stairs on the side leading to another door. Aerith looked up to see a painting on the ceiling with angels and demons. It looked like the earth was behind them with something that looked like streams of pale green and blue light surrounding the planet. The painting gave her a feeling like light and dark were fighting against each other over the planet. To her...the Cetra and Jenova fighting over the planet. The door she walked through closed by itself and she heard it become locked. The voice spoke to her once again...

“The great Jenova Gainsborough once said, “The most valuable thing in this world is the Great Truth.” ......Human beings... Human life... They are not capable of grasping this truth. We cannot merely sit idle and await the future. We must dedicate our lives to the realization of the truth. Ahh... Aerithanya.” The other door clicked open. “No... My Cetra Azoth... come to me. Come to me, Aerithanya.”

Aerith closed her eyes and crossed her arms around her stomach. “I don’t want to see this man! I’m afraid! What if he wants to kill me or...” Her tearful eyes opened and looked at the door...hiding whoever was waiting for her. “I have no choice but to go in there... I have nowhere else to go...” So...she walked up the stairs and stood in front of the door feeling too scared to open it. After calming down and taking in a deep breath, she pushed he door open a little and peeped inside. It was a small yet long room. The walls had a faint green glow and the place look like quite the rubble. She couldn’t see anyone inside at all. Greatly confused, she stepped inside and looked around. Right behind her out of a flash of black feathers...a man appeared behind her! Aerith gasped and turned around. She gasped harder a second time when she saw his face...

“Daddy?”
~*~

This isn't gd! What's happening to Cloud? Has Aerith found her father?

By the way, here's a HG video i made with the Ginger Snaps theme, u can see how old Lorenzo gets killed...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOSM9m2HD84

I could've sworn I reviewed this before... Okay, so maybe I couldn't really see Sephiroth acting like that just because my inner fangirl can't see him old and decrepit. He's still pretty mobile for his age though. I don't like old Lorenzo. <_< Young one is better. :P The last part of this chapter confused me; how come Sephiroth looks like Gast? Don't tell me it's the Jenova cell clone thing that makes them look alike. Or is that Sephiroth at all? Hmm...

lol i wasnt sure about this chapter since even i cant c sephiroth like that but thats how it goes in the game (u shouldve seen my face when i 1st had old lorenzo chasing me wwwaagghhh!!!" lol)
i tried 2 think of ways 2 change it 2 make my sephiroth-fan side feel better but i couldnt think of anything

yes, after that is very confusing, when i was controlling fiona 2 go around the room and hearing that voice, i was getting annoyed coz it takes 4ever 4 that door 2 open ><

well we kno now that hojo and gast r clones of sephiroth...but who is the person aerith has met if all 3 r dead eh? is it the intruder?
im almost done typing the nxt chapter but ive been busy lately, i'll continue as soon as i can

(please leave a comment so i can leave a reply 2 add the nxt chapter, soz lol)

But wait, wasn't the intruder the one who looked like Cloud? (or at least I was under the impression that he was Cloud) I'll let you answer that in the next chapter.

sorry 4 the wait again, i finally got the actual version up on the fanfiction web
ive been correcting all the mistakes i havent been bothered 2 scroll up and down here 2 correct lol
naughty me

here's the link if u want, not sure if ur willing 2 read an M rated fanfic even tho everything so far isnt bad and pretty much the same here

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3507560/1/
hope u enjoy

i do want 2 continue and finish this fanfic off but ive been very busy lately

I've seen the ff.net version, and I don't think it's bad enough for an M. At least it doesn't have any material that normally warrants an M an ff.net... It's good that you posted it though, now you can get more readers!

It's a good decision to wait if you're busy. Although it'll be nice to have a conclusion eventually, a rushed ending doesn't do either side good. Keep up the nice work!

yh, like i said b4, them M stuff dont kick in til chapter 18

yh, the people r nice and supportive like u have been :huggle: thku again
funny that i forget 2 mention that the version posted here is also a preview version and still in planning lol (i kno that the last couple of chapters here have been rushed)
:( i can b so forgetful ><

by the way, i'll post the next hapter here very soon

something u will enjoy, i hope
its the scenario i have enjoyed in my head most of all :D

see u soon
^-^

:aeris: