Pearls of Light Ch. 4

=={Pearls of Light}
Chapter 4

How long was this going to take?

I was already at my limit. Please, Tifa… hurry.

What was that? Fire and smoke… blood…

Footsteps and screams.

I watched in horror as Cloud was run through with Masamune only to overpower Sephiroth's great power and throw the terrifying man over the railing and down into the pit of mako energy. Cloud was dying… bleeding… Tifa was hurt badly, and Zack…

Zack was dying…

Was that how he died?

My eyes welled up with tears, my lips trembling. Zack was dying. All three of them were bleeding profusely. It was only then that Cloud's memory faded. That was it, then. All of Cloud's memories were sorted out. I released Tifa and Cloud's hands, my eyes turning to Cloud.

He stared at me, a look of confusion in those baby blue eyes. Slowly, he reached out and wiped away my tears.

I smiled and touched his hand. This pain in my heart was more than I could bear. So Zack had died on the mission…? He hadn't contacted me because… he couldn't.

"He was going to see you." Cloud answered my unasked question, his voice unwavering.

My eyes widened slightly before I closed them and nodded, feeling a sort of contentment. "He… hadn't died that day?"

"No… We… were both trapped for five years by Hojo…" I held onto Cloud's hand as he brushed away more of my tears. "He talked about visiting you once we got to Midgar, but… he…" He looked away.

"I see…" I smiled a little bit more. So he was going to see me after all. He hadn't run off with another girl. Zack… I'm sorry… I'm sorry that had happened to you. But… you died protecting Cloud, didn't you? That was just like you. You always had to play the hero.

Thank you, Zack.

If you hadn't protected Cloud then I would have never met him and never have learned about your fate. I had thought you ran off with another girl and forgotten all about me. I knew it was strange not hearing from you or how your parents hadn't heard from you for ten years. You often contacted them, didn't you? I didn't know how to put the pieces together until now.

"Aerith?"

Cloud's voice brought me back to my senses. I looked up at him and nodded. He needed to return to the surface, where he belonged.

"I…"

"It's alright." I took his and Tifa's hand once more. "You need to get back. Everyone's waiting."

Cloud nodded. The sadness was still in his eyes, but he had made some sort of peace with himself. That guilt would stay with him, I knew that, but I couldn't do anything now. He was closed up.

The two returned to the surface with a bit of my help. I stayed behind, watching them, smiling fondly like a mother would. Those two had so much more ahead of them. I could only hope and pray they won't give up.

Be strong, Cloud. Tifa. Barret. Nanaki. Yuffie. Cait Sith. Vincent. Cid.

I'll be watching over you and cheering you on. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to help out.

There was something cold on the wind. I bolted around, a darkness spreading over the paradise. I didn't know what to do or think about this. This dark energy… Negative Lifestream.

"It's been awhile… but I've finally found you."

That voice was so familiar. I took a step back, my face paling as a familiar silver haired man stepped out of the clouding darkness. Everywhere he stepped withered and turned black. He held out a hand, a sick smile on his face.

"Aerith…"

"Sephiroth…" Did he expect me to take his hand? I scowled. "What do you want? Go away! I thought I told you I wasn't interested-"

Dark tethers tore from behind him and wrapped around my mouth and arms. I tried to scream, but knew it was no good. He was too strong… I struggled only to fall to my knees. I was trapped by the man who had killed me. He had been in the Lifestream for over five years… of course he would've been able to take control of it. He had corrupted it. He was only waiting for me. Why had I been so careless?!

"You will be my queen of this world once you realize how hopeless it is to fight against me." Sephiroth knelt down in front of me, a gloved hand caressing my cheek. "Once you witness my new world and the death of your friends you'll have no choice but to join me."

He was sick… sick and twisted. I would never join with him, even if he were the last person on the planet.

"Meteor is summoned and your little prayer has been halted. Holy is stilled as long as I have you in my grasp." He chuckled softly. "You wasted a prayer, little Cetra. My captured princess. Your knight isn't here to save you."

Did he mean Cloud? Of course Cloud couldn't help me. We were in different worlds. But… that didn't mean Cloud couldn't fight against Sephiroth. If he could defeat this man then I could free Holy and stop Meteor for destroying everything. Sephiroth knew what I was thinking. In this place no one could lie. He gave a chuckle and leaned close to me in my helpless state.

"You are sweet. Too sweet." He spoke gently, but I knew there were hidden meanings in his words.

Sephiroth had died five years ago, his body encased in a mako crystal. I suspected it to be in the Northern Crater. I had felt that dark energy before my untimely death. He was reconstructing his body. His will was much too strong to be dissipated so soon. His presence was so powerful and dark. My light couldn't hope to compensate for such power. His tendrils were draining my energy.

Please, Cloud… I know you can do it. You have to. I know in my heart you can defeat Sephiroth. If you truly are grateful to Zack then you will avenge your friend. Hojo was the one behind the entire thing. He had corrupted poor Sephiroth's mind into thinking he can become a God and rule over everything. Sephiroth had to be defeated. He had to be purified, if only so he can find peace.

Cloud… Don't worry about me.