Sephiroth looked up at the moon as the shadow slowly moved across it. "Where is she?" he wondered. He stood up and looked at the door. "I guess that I will go look for her..." He glanced back up just in time to see the shadow cover the moon in the completion of the eclipse.
"Ahhhhh!" I screamed, grabbing the sides of my head and dropping to my knees. "Whats.... going... on?!" "Raven!" Aldous cried reaching for me. I fell forward, outcold. "Raven?! Where are you?!" Sephiroth heard the scream and came rushing in. His breath caught in his throat when he seen me with Aldous knealing by my side. "She fainted!" Aldous explained. Sephiroth knelt beside me and felt my pulse. When he was satisfied that I was alright he glanced around the room. "What is this place?" he asked. "I have no clue!" Aldous exclaimed. "This is the first that I have been here." Aldous's already low voice deepened as he wondered and thought harder. Sephiroth picked me up and the read the writing on the walls. "Sephiroth..." I mumbled. I opened my eyes. "Sephiroth... they spoke of you on the walls! The ancients spoke of you!" He sat me on my feet and held me close. "Sephiroth, you have to find these sages," Aldous replied. "You are clearly the one that they are speaking of." Sephiroth nodded. "I already know who the first sage is," he said. "I jerked my head up and looked at him, surprised. "Who?" I asked. "Its obvious," he told me. "The one who prayed for holy. Your sister." I looked at the wall again. "You are right," I said. "I guess I'm still a little off balance." He smiled at me. "I understand," he said. "Come on we have to go get Aeris."
"Are you telling me that I'm a sage?" Aeris asked. "There is only one way to find out," I told her. "You have to come back to the temple with us." She looked worried then nodded. "Don't worry," I told her. "Everything will be alright as long as we both don't summon our strongest magic at the same time." "Okay," she smiled. We left and went straight to the temple. "Where is Cloud?" I asked. "He's on a mission for Reeve," she answered. "He..." her eyes widened as she stopped in midsentence. She slowly looked around the room and then I read outloud to her the legend of the seven sages. Slowly she stepped forward towards the first door. Sephiroth put his hands on my sholders as we watched her extend her hand and pull the ring from the door. It slid open slowly and her eyes were wide when she turned back to look at us. We followed her inside. I leaped backwards into Sephiroth when I seen the room. On the wall was a picture of Aeris. She was dressed in a white, extraordinary robe with her hands clasped in front of her, the ring on her left hand. I turned around and looked up at Sephiroth. "How could they have known what she looked like?" I asked, frightened. He lowed his glance from the picture to look into my eyes. "I don't know," he whispered. "Aeris? Are you okay?" I asked. "No I am not," she blurted out, crossing her arms across her chest in a haughty manner. "In fact, I believe this is all a stupid lie. The ancients are a race of liars." "But you ARE and ancient!" I cried. "So what? I still think our people were liars, dear sister. You are gullible to believe this nonsense!" she said, shoving past me and Sephiroth, knocking us apart. She spun around. "You know? You must be a liar too! You're just trying to trick me. You know Sephiroth, you can always dump this lieing ancient and come with me!" Sephiroth grabbed my arm when I stepped towards her. "Aeris you go too far!" I shouted. "What's gotten into you?!" She looked at me smuggly for a second before answering. "Realizing the truth for once," she said. "That I am better than you and I always will be. I'm outta here." She turned and left. I stared after her, stunned. When I finally realized that I wasn't dreaming I burst into tears. Still in shock himself, Sephiroth quickly wrapped his arms around me. "What happened?!" I moaned. "What happened to my sister?" "A curse," Sephiroth said, stroking my hair. "A curse?" I was confused. "When each door is opened a curse will possess the sage. These curses must be broken before the resserection," he said reading over my sholder. "Sephiroth, what are we going to do?" I choked out the question. "We'll have to find some way to change them back," he said quietly. I turned around and looked at the clue to the next sage. "A flame follows him where ever he goes," Sephiroth read. "A flame?" He looked confused. "I don't know..." I replied, narrowing my eyes in deep thought. "Its an obvious answer. It can't be as complicated as it seems." "What do you mean?" he asked me. "I mean I don't think that its a riddle," I explained. "I think that they mean it literally!" "So..." he looked at me expectantly. "Do you know who it is?" "I think we will find our sage in Cosmo Canyon," I smiled. He threw his head back and laughed.
"It took me longer, than the other two, to convince Reeve that he was a sage. "Reeve, you're the man who has the most responsiblity," I said. "You control a whole army and look after the entire planet." He turned away from me. "Which is why I don't want more," he told me. "Reeve we need you!" I pleaded. "If we don't have all seven sages the world may come to an end and all of your work would have been for naught." He looked at me, and sighed, "Alright I will go with you."
"Wow this is horrible," Cloud said, dragging his hand through his hair. "So thats what was wrong with Aeris." He muttered the words, dropping his gaze. "Raven isn't taking this too well. She sent me to ask you about the next clue," Sephiroth replied. "What is it?" Cloud asked. Sephiroth told him. "That one is easy," Cloud replied. "It's Vincent." Sephiroth nodded. "I never would have come up with that. I never knew about where Vincent came from," he admitted. "That is a long story. Maybe I'll tell you about it one day," Cloud said. "I'll go get Vincent." Sephiroth watched as Cloud disappeared into the Highwind. Sephiroth could sense his uneasiness lingering. He turned to face the setting sun. A strong wind pulled his hair back and whipped his cloak around his legs. "Why do I have such a terrible feeling about Raven?" he asked himself.
Aldous opened the door from the inside to allow entry to Sephiroth. "Thanks for letting me in," Sephiroth said. "Raven?" "She's still the same as before you left," Aldous told him sadly. Jase ran ahead and entered the round room. I sat hugging my knees to my chest staring at the doors. "Raven!" Jase cried out. I glanced at him and turned back to the door. He hurried over and knelt down beside me. Soon Cloud was on the other side of me. Vincent stood in front of me beside Sephiroth. "Vincent open the door," I said in a weak voice. His eyes widened, "How did you..." "I can feel it," I interupted him. He nodded and turned to the door. Unfearing, he removed the ruby ring from its bed of stone. He walked into the room and I heard, clearly, the clink of metal as the ring hit the floor. "Vincent!" I cried out. I could see his fist clenching at his side and his body slightly trembling. I got to my feet and walked towards him. I put my hand on his sholder and he turned, flinging me against the wall with amazing strength. Sephiroth started towards him angrily. "Sephiroth no!" I yelled. "Its the curse!" He stopped and looked at my pain stricken face. Vincent growled and turned to Sephiroth. "Its your fault that I lost Lucritia! If you wouldn't have been born she wouldn't have gone mad!" Vincent stalked out of the room. Sephiroth hurried to my side. "I can't do this anymore!" I cried. "I can't bare to see them this way!" Sephiroth pulled me into his arms and I cried. "Raven you have to be strong. This is the only way to find the seventh sage before he ressurects the sorcerer." I hugged him tighter. "We have to find a way to chage them back," I whispered. "We will," Sephiroth told me, smooting his hand down my hair. "I promise." He helped me to stand and I looked over at Jase and Cloud. "What does this say?" Cloud asked pointing to the writing next to Vincent's picture. "Thats the next clue," Sephiroth told him. "He was a diamond amongst the blackest coal. Drawn forth by the love of family." "Who is that?" Jase asked, scratching his head. Sephiroth glanced at me. My eyes were wide in a horrified expression. "Raven...?" I spun and looked at Jase. "No you can't do it," I said. "I won't let you!" "Its ME?!" Jase asked, pointing to himself. I nodded. "But you can't do it," I said. "I can't let you do it." "Raven I have to do my part," Jase told me. "If I am the next sage then I have to do this." He went and pulled the sardonyx ring from the stone before I could stop him. The door swung wide and he gasped when he seen the picture, on the wall, of himself. "Jase," I grabbed his arm before he could walk inside. He grabbed my wrist and put his and Vincent's rings in my hand. Then he smiled and stepped forward. "Raven look," Sephiroth pointed to the next inscription. At the same time we both turned towards Cloud. I looked at him and then lowered my gaze to the floor. "What?" Cloud asked. "He is the only human to match the chosen one in battle..." I muttered. I rushed forward and hugged Cloud. "Not you too!" I cried. "Just make sure that you find a way to cure me," he told me. "How come you get all the girls?!" Jase yelled. I turned around. "You have my cousin's favor more than I do!" he pouted. Cloud didn't know what to say. "Jase..." I started forward. "No!" Jase cried, holding his hand up. "You will never love me like you did Zack. No one will ever love me as you love Sephiroth. I'll never be as strong as him or Cloud. I am just a bowman." He turned back into the room and sat down in the middle of the floor. "Well, I guess this is it," Cloud said. He moved me towards Sephiroth who I latched onto fiercely. Cloud removed the sapphire ring and tossed it to Sephiroth, who pressed it into my hand. Cloud walked into the room. When he turned around his eyes widened when he spotted Sephiroth. Sephiroth could see something in his eyes that he had seen a hundred times before but never in Cloud. Fear. Cloud cried out and ran out of sight. Sephiroth sighed. "That one is going to be hard to fix. He's scared of the sight of me!" Sephiroth replied. "Can you see the final clue?" I asked. "Yes," Sephiroth answered. "It says: The angel with midnight feathered wings." I sighed softly. "Raven do you know who that is?" he asked me. "Sephiroth..." I whispered. He felt a slight tug at his hip where he kept a leather carrying pouch. "...I love you." I pulled away from him and went to the final door. I pulled the last ring from the stone and watched it slide open. "Raven!" Sephiroth reached for me. I turned and put the ring into his hand. I backed into the room, my eyes sad and the shadows came at me, blowing my hair up. I put my arms out and threw my head back. Out came a laugh that sounded so horribly evil that Sephiroth winced. I looked at him, my eyes flashing, a menacing smile on my face and then began to disappear. "Raven no!" Sephiroth cried jumping after me. I was gone by the time he got inside the room. He looked around the room and his eyes widened, astonished by the enormous size of the room. On the walls were hundreds of pictures of him and Raven. But the last one, behind the alter, was a picture of me with black wings spread out behind me. Sephiroth stepped up to the alter. There were seven small slots, formed into a circle, and one bigger slot in the center. "The rings..." he whispered. He reached to his hip and pulled the six rings out of his pouch. He added the emerald ring I gave him. "How did she know to give them to me?" he asked himself. He began inserting them into the slots... The first, the diamond ring of the Sage of Holy; Second, the topaz ring of the Sage of Creation; Third, the amethyst ring of the Sage of Virtue; Fourth, the ruby ring of the Sage of Nobility; Fifth, the sardonyx ring of the Sage of Strength; Sixth, the sapphire ring of the Sage of Courage; and finally, the seventh, the emerald ring of the Sage of Wisdom. He looked at the slot in the middle. He thought for a moment then he put his sword down in it. The seven rings began to glow and the light streamed forth into the blade of the sword. The everything went dark.
"Cid we have to find the other sages," Aeris said. "And quickly." "Maybe we should gather everyone up to help us out," Nanaki suggested. "Thats a good idea," Aeris replied. "Cid take us to get Tifa, Yuffie and Barret, please." He nodded and set the course. They picked up Tifa first, from Nibelheim, then Yuffie and lastly Barret who brought Marlene with him. The little girl was excited about seeing Aeris. "I heard that Reeve was in Midgar making all sorts of problems," Tifa replied. "Go to Midgar," Sephiroth said from his stance by the window. "And while I'm there try to find Vincent, Jase and Cloud."
Sephiroth made his way throught the familiar building, searching for Reeve. He stopped when he seen Hojo's lab. He never actually went in there. He didn't want to know anything about his biological father. He had always disliked him durring his years at SOLDIER. He pushed open the door and walked inside. Papers and books were scattered all over the place from where I had been going through them. He pulled open a cabinet drawer and was surprised to find it still in tact. After a quick check he found that it was the only one. "She must not have had time to go through this," Sephiroth mumbled. He flipped through the files until he found a notebook. Curious, he picked it up and leafed through the pages. He stopped when he seen his name. "What am I doing this?" he thought. *After the success with my first experiment with my son Sephiroth, I experiment further with another woman's fetus. It too became a success but this I kept a secret from everyone, including the mother. There were more attempts to make them like Sephiroth and Marron but they failed. Even Marron, as he got older, began to show signs of imperfection. I finally decided to try again with another of my own children. I chose a healthy, young woman in Nibelheim and seduced her. Soon she was with child and I began the experiment. Unfortunately it was unsuccessful. A failed attempt to clone my first son. This one I left with his mother, hoping that with time he would change. He didn't. He is a failed experiment. Cloud and Sephiroth were sent to a Nibelheim mission and after the destruction of the town, caused by Sephiroth, the two disappeared. Sephiroth thought to be dead and the other taken to Shinra Mansion along with another boy from Gongaga....* Sephiroth dropped the book, the realization coming to him. He turned and left the lab. He ran up the steps, burning off the aggression as he made his way to Reeve's office. He opened the door and found the president sitting with his feet propped up. Sephiroth couldn't help but to think of how much like Rufus he was. Cursed with selfishness. Sephiroth held out the amythist ring to Reeve. "They told me that this ring is priceless," he told Reeve. "Is that so? Well then it must be mine. Where did you steal it from?" he asked. "I have no use for money. You dropped it in the temple," Sephiroth took it from him. "Yes this is an uncommon stone and the carving is exquisite. Yes it must belong to me," he laughed, putting it on. "Now you must come with me,: Sephiroth told Reeve. "Raven is in trouble." "What? Whats going on?" Reeve was confused. "I'll explain later. Come on," Sephiroth insisted.
Sephiroth went across the bridge heading towards Nibelheim reactor where he was told Vincent went. All of the sudden the ground began to shake and the bridge broke. He held onto the boards to keep from falling. It slammed against the side of the mountain and he climbed up. He could see a cloud of smoke rising into the air. As he got closer to the reactor he could see that it was on fire. He hurried forward, afraid that Vincent got caught in the explosion. He stopped nearby to survey the damage. The building was ruined, pieces of it lay scattered everywhere. He sighed kind of happy that it had been destroied. The reactor had housed many of the worst days of his life. "You may be Lucritia's son but Hojo is also your father," Vincent said darkly. Sephiroth turned to face the scowling Vincent. "Then you take the sould of another innocent to add alongside your mother's. This must stop before you drive Raven insain like Lucritia," Vincent growled. Sephiroth told himself that it was the rage talking and he kept his cool. Sephiroth showed him the ring. "I found this in Hojo's lab," he told Vincent. "It was Lucritia's. I want you to have it." He flipped the ring to Vincent who caught it in his right hand and put it on his finger. "What happened to the reactor?" Vincent asked, blinking. "You destoyed it," Sephiroth told him. "Good ridiance, I say." "That was the last reactor standing," Vincent said. "Now the world is finally free of Shinra influence." "I guess that something good actually came out of that curse," Sephiroth chuckled. "Lets go, they should have found Jase by now."
"I wonder what he is doing here," Sephiroth asked himself. He looked around the snow covered landscape then entered the house that I once called home. Jase sat next to the fire, staring into the flames. Sephiroth marveled at his resemblance to me. His dark brown hair hung halfway down his back. The line of his face and the way that he carried himself. Even the intence expression on his face as he stared into the fire. "I'll never be like you," Jase mumbled. "You want to know my secret?" Sephiroth asked. Jase looked up at him. Sephiroth removed the sardonyx ring from the pouch. "This ring is magic. It'll make you stronger like you want to be," he told Jase. Jase looked awestruck as he took the ring from Sephiroth and slid it on his finger. The wonderous look turned to confusion. He looked up at Sephiroth, "Where am I?" "Icicle Villiage," Sephiroth replied. "Follow me. We have to find Cloud and get to Raven quick. We're running out of time." "What happened to me?" Jase asked. "The curse of envy," Sephiroth answered.
"Cloud I know you're here! Come on out," Sephiroth called. He was standing in Costa Del Sol, Cloud's condo. "If you don't come out I am going to beat you senseless!" Cloud peeked out from behind a chair, looking like a scared rabbit. It was all he could do to keep from laughing. "Come here," Sephiroth commanded. Cloud walked out slowly. Sephiroth pulled out the sapphire ring. "Put this on or I will make you wish you were never even born!" Cloud took the ring quickly and put it on, scared out of his mind. "What's going on?" Cloud asked dropping down onto the couch. "Did your mother ever talk to you about your father?" Sephiroth asked. "Not much. She usually changed the subject," Cloud said. "Why do you want to know." "Because I found out who your father is," Sephiroth put his head into his hands with his elbows resting on his knees. "What?!" Cloud looked increulous. "Cloud..." Sephiroth looked up. "We're brothers." Cloud nearly fell out of his seat. "You mean...?" Cloud got up and went to the window. "I have always wondered what it was between me and you. I always knew that there was a link somewhere." "I think that Raven sensed it long ago," Sephiroth replied. "Do you remember? She said that you were my light." "Yes I remember," Cloud said. "The day that she revived Aeris." "We don't have much time left to get to her. The eclipse is only a week away," Sephiroth said, standing up. "Where is she?" Cloud asked. "The crater. Come on, everyone is waiting for us at the Highwind," Sephiroth left the building and Cloud followed.
"You guys had better be careful," Yuffie told the large group. She was staying behind with Marlene and Reeve. "Be ready for any trouble," Cid told his crew. "We may come back in a hurry." The nine people dropped down into the crater. Cloud looked down into the pit and sighed. "This brings back bad memories," he sighed. "No kidding," Tifa muttered. "We'll split into three groups," Sephiroth said. "We have to find her quickly, time has nearly run out." "We'll meet at the center. I am sure that is where she will be," Cloud said. "Jase you're coming with me," Sephiroth announced. "Raven would not be happy if I let anything happen to you. Vincent take Cid and Barret, Cloud take Aeris and Nanaki, Tifa come with me and Jase." Everyone nodded and the group split up. Tifa and Jase had trouble keeping up with Sephiroth. "He's in a hurry," Tifa observed. "He truely loves her, doesn't he?" "Yeah," Jase answered. "Raven is wonderful, I hope that if I ever find a girl she'll have a heart as big as hers." "You're asking alot," Tifa giggled. "Yeah I know," he sighed. Then he smiled. "Will you stop talking and keep up?" Sephiroth called out. Jase ran, followed by Tifa, to Sephiroth. They moved to the center where they met up with the other six. "We seen Raven," Aeris said sadly. "She sent a monster after us." "She's trying everything to keep us away," Cloud said. "If we go that way I think we'll find her." He pointed up a large slope. "Then lets go!" Cid called out.
"Uncle Reeve what's wrong with the sun?" Marlene asked. Reeve glanced up and squinted at the bright sunlight. "Oh no!" he cried. "It's started early!"
"We're back outside!" Aeris said. "Sephiroth look!" Vincent yelled, paniced. "Oh #&@^$*!!" Everyone looked at Sephiroth after they heard what he said. "Desperate times call for desperate words," he muttered and headed off at a fast pace. Cid couldn't help but to laugh. Sephiroth glanced up as he ran. It was only moment before the eclipse was complete. He seen me knealing in the center of a five pointed star with my hands outstretched to the sun. Sephiroth ran, it seemed that everything went silent, that there was no other life but him and me. Seconds... no time... the eclipse completed. Sephiroth pushed himself harder, closing the distance in moments. He lunged into the circle of light and tackled me. I cried out as my sholder connected with rock. "No!" I cried, clawing at Sephiroth. He was too strong. "Let me go damnit!" I screeched loudly and kicked him hard. He loosened his hold but he caught his senses quick enough to pin me down. "Let me go, you bastard!" I howled. He winced and shook it off. "How about this," he said. "I'll let you go if you put on this ring," I thought about it for a moment, "Are you kidding me? It's a trick!" "No it's not. I love you," he said. "There is no such thing as love," I growled. "Yeah, I guess you're right," he sighed. "But I do admire your power!" I smiled. "Its too bad that you don't want to wear my ring. Its just full of power!" He sighed again. "Power? Did you say power? Well I've changed my mind," I said, holding out my hand. He put the ring on my finger and the hatefull smile disappeared. I looked up at the light that was now a spiral. "It's too late," I whispered. "Mephistos is coming." I looked up at Sephiroth who still hoovered over me. "I'm sorry," I said sadly. He pulled me close. "I saved you from the eternal curse," he said. "Even though the prophecy said that if he came then you were lost. There must be a way to defeat him." "Sephiroth, there is something I have to tell you....." I started. "Look out!" cried suddenly. Sephiroth lifted his sword in time to block the sorcerer's magic. A bright light illuminated the sword as it absorbed the magic. t that moment Sephiroth remembered the power that the rings had given the sword. Mephistos also carried a sword which was extraordinarily long. His long hair was pitch black and so were his eyes. He was a powerful warrior of the greatest evil. And he was looking directly at me. "Come, my sage," he held his hand out to me. "Come with me." "No," I said. "I am not going with you." "This cannot be!" he bellowed. He growled loudly and swooped down on me like a hawk to it's prey. I struggled in his grip and winced because his laugher was so loud. "I will have my sage!" he promised darkly. "Raven!" Sephiroth yelled. He couldn't hear me but he could see my lips moving. "...the temple..." The light disappeared and so did Mesphistos and I. "Sephiroth lets go!" he heard Cloud yell. He turned to see the Highwind's ladder dangeling nearby and grabbed it. "To the temple!" he yelled when he reached the top.
The door to the temple was gone. Completely torn off. Sephiroth made his way through the temple, followed by Cloud and the other sages. He stepped into the seventh room where Mephistos stood in the center of the star carved on the floor, that Sephiroth didn't notice before. He held his sword in his right hand and me tucked under his left arm. "Come on chosen one. Lets see what you've got!" Mephistos tossed me aside. Sephiroth attacked but was surprised to find that Mephistos blocked and countered his blows almost effortlessly and always with a smile on his face. Then he began to use magic to teleport all over the room, forcing Sephiroth to chase him. Then with a mighty blow he knocked Sephiroth into the wall next to me. He hit his head hard, making him see stars. "Sephiroth!" I cried, seeing that he wasn't getting up right away and Mephistos was preparing his final attack. I grabbed Sephiroth's masamune and, holding it in both hands, attacked Mephistos. I swung at him several times that he blocked easily. I lifted the sword high for a heavy blow and felt the tip of Mephistos's sword bury into my waist, crushing through my bottom left rib and grazing my lung. He pulled his sword out, the tip covered in blood. I backed up into the wall and dropped the long sword. It clattered to the ground next to Sephiroth. He jolted awake. "Raven?" he looked up at me and his eyes widened when he seen my pale face and my eyes sparkling with painfilled tears, blood had trickled out of the corner of my mouth and trailed down my chin. I slid down and painted the wall red behind me. He pulled my hand away from the wound and seen the fatalitly of it. "Raven... I'm so sorry," he said, a tear dropping. "Look out..." I managed to say. Sephiroth dodged the sword Mephistos had swung at him. He picked up his own sword and began to attack hard. Not winning but not losing either. Aeris and Cloud ran to me crying. "Aeris... use a... cure spell... on me..." I whispered. She nodded and cast a cure3 spell on me. I smiled and looked up at her. "The wound is for a slow death. The spell will give me the strength to do what I have to do," I explained to her what we, the sages, had to do. "There is one more thing. Our strongest magic, used in this temple, will do what our mother, Ifalna, warned us about." "Raven, no I couldn't do it," she said. "Aeris, we have no choice and my only other option is to die," I told her. "I want you to have the Promised Land, my sister... and please... take Sephiroth with you... it is my last request." She nodded and then she motioned for everyone to join us. She quickly explained what was going to happen. "When we are gone," I explained. "Get out of the temple imediately!" Cloud and Jase pulled me to my feet and we formed a circle around the star that Sephiroth and Mephistos were fighting on. The circle of sages was powerful. No one could leave it by any means and no one could harm a sage. It was a sort of battle ring, to keep the fighting fair. Mephistos was angry that he could not teleport so he fought harder. Feeling the energy of the sages, Sephiroth became stronger. He lunged into it and struck hard. I seen the sorcerer falter once. Sephiroth lifted his sword high. "Now!" I commanded. "Holy..." a white light. "Creation..." an orange light. "Virtue..." a violet light. "Nobility..." a red light. "Strength..." a pale green light. "Courage..." a blue light. "Wisdom!" a green light. The light surrounded out bodies and instantly we were transformed. Aeris, Nanaki and Reeve in the white, orange, and violet robes of the druids. Vincent, Jase and Cloud in the red, light green and blue robes of the warrior. I floated inches above the ground, my fatal wound healed. I pushed up my arms and the seven points of light hit Sephiroth's sword at the same time. Just in time for him to strike the final blow. The sorcerer, Mephistos, howled with the mixture of hatred, rage and pain. The sound was like shattering glass as he disappeared, his screams fading into nothing, his sword buried to the hilt in the stone floor. The green glow around me brightened as did the white glow around Aeris. Everyone looked at us, their light already gone. Sephiroth looked at me with wonder in his eyes. Those eyes that grew round when the midnight feathered wings appeared behind me. I was lowered to the floor. "Go with Aeris," I told Sephiroth sadly. "I have no idea where I am heading... and you have always wanted the Promised Land. Now you may go. Please... go for me." Aeris stood next to him and took his arm. Cloud took Aeris's other arm. "I want to go with you," he told her. "I love you." "And I love you," Aeris whispered tearfully. The white portal appeared around the trio at the same time the black one appeared behind me. Aeris could feel Sephiroth begin to shake. A tear slipped down my cheek and the ebony wings spread out behind me. Sephiroth shook harder and Aeris tried to hold on but he jerked free. "Raven!" he yelled racing for me. He fell to his knees and his arms folded around my waist.
"Aldous... Raven told me to give this to you," Jase said, giving him the black materia. "She said that you would know what to do with it." "And I do," Aldous replied. "Would you tell Cid to take us to Aeris's mother's house?" "Yeah. Sure," Jase said. He assumed that he wanted to tell her what had happened.
"Give me five minuites then I want all of you to come inside," Aldous instructed. They all nodded and he climbed down from the Highwind. "I guess he wants to tell her what happened before we all go inside," Reeve said. "I want to go see Aeris's mommy!" Marlene said happily. "I know sweetie," Barret said. "Hey, its been five minuites," Jase said. They all climbed down and went inside the house. They all found a seat and Aldous came into view. "While Sephiroth was gone looking for the sages, Raven confided a very big secret to me. She was quite afraid because of it. She left me with specific instructions to only do if something happened to her and Sephiroth. I think that somehown she knew that she wouldn't be here to take care of it herself," he told them. "You may not have known this but Sephiroth fell into a mysterious coma for six months. I had to leave for a few days while he was unconcious to carry out the first of Raven's plans. Jase, you she has chosen to help me. She told me that you are who she trusts most and to tell you that she loves you even as much as Zack." Jase smiled. "So what is it that she wants me to do?" he asked. "You probably don't know this but Raven was with child," he answered ignoring the gasps and startled cries. "The babe was born durring Sephiroth's coma. Jase, you are the closest to his family.... you are the one Raven wants to father him. You and the girl of your choosing as long as her heart is good! She loves you all. Please honor her last wish!" "I will do it," Jase replied. "Will you help me Tifa?" "Yes I will," she smiled. "She also asked me to stay behind as the child's guide. She wanted him to know who he is and about the ancients. His ancestry," Aldous said. Aeris's mother came down the steps carrying a tiny bundle. She unwrapped it to show everyone the white-haired boy. Jase held him and smiled as he looked into his sweet face. The baby opened his eyes and Jase was thrilled to see the shining emerald eyes. "Everyone..." Aldous started. "I would like you to meet the son of Sephiroth and Raven..."
"What happened to them?" Cloud asked. Aeris smile, "Sephiroth did what he said he would do in the beginning. He didn't even know it...." "What?" Cloud asked, confused. "He became one with the planet. He and Raven became divine beings who settle the planet. Eventually... when their job is done, and there is peace on the planet, they will come here and be with us!" She explained happily. "I always knew that my sister was meant for great things. I refused to believe that she would go to some sort of hell when we left her.... and just think. All of these years she has been afraid. I have been afraid. All for nothing." "We lead a good life on the earth. So did Raven and Sephiroth, although all of the bad things seemed to happen to them," Cloud said. Aeris looked up, "Evil tried to seperate them. To keep them from leaving the planet. Evil doesn't want peace. But, you know.... it failed! Sephiroth has truely redeemed himself...."
*********************************************************
~TO BE CONTINUED...~
"Raven...." I looked around but I seen no one. "Raven." It seemed to be coming from my left. I walked towards the soft, mysterious voice. I walked towards it as if I were hypnotized to do so. I was originally heading to the top of the temple to watch the completion of the lunar eclipse. But what was this noise? Was there someone else in the temple? There couldn't be! It was just me, Sephiroth and Aldous (the old man). "Sephiroth?" I called out. "I thought that you and Aldous were upstairs!" I spotted movement out of the corner of my eye and turned in time to see absolutely nothing. "Sephiroth this isn't funny!" I growled, walking down an unfamiliar and rather dark hallway. Was this even here before? I could have sworn that I knew every cooridor in this temple.... There was no way this was here before. I would have remebered. There was a light at the end of the tunnel and I walked into a room that was small, compared to the rest of the places in the temple. I looked around and seen that this circular shaped room had seven doors, not including the one that I had come through. I looked at the writing on the wall that was written in the language of the ancients. I read it outloud to myself. "...a lunar eclipse will awaken the seven sages who will revive the planet and save it from death.... Long ago a powerful sorcerer who sought to conquer the planet with the use of the seventh sage placed a curse on the sages to face powers that will destroy them... in attempt to stop the curse an unlikely man was chosen by the ancients to be their hero. This unlikely hero is the most powerful in strength, wit and heart. Hidden under a shadow most of his life and brought into the life by the most powerful love... (Sephiroth??) ...destiny only shows that he is the chosen one but does not decide the fate of the planet. The hero must use the magic of holy, the essence of creation, nobility, strength and wisdom to save them. Otherwise the sage of wisdom with forever become the sage of malice and ressurect the sorcerer, therefore giving him the power to conquer the world... the ressurection can only take place when day becomes night, exactly one year after the lunar eclipse... the first sage is she who once prayed for holy... open the first seal, the seal of the diamond sage..." I walked to the first door. There was a silver ring stuck in the door with a circular shaped diamond on the top, polished smooth. You could see through the gem where a five pointed star was carved underneath. I touched it then tried to pull it out. It wouldn't budge. There was another inscription nearby. "The doors can only be open in the order of the seven sages. They will be opened only by the removal of the ring by its sage after the awakening." I thought for a moment. "What are you doing?" Aldous asked. "Sephiroth is waiting, we're going to miss the eclipse!" He looked around. "..........." he was puzzled. "I have never seen this room!" I kept my eyes on the wall. "The date of the awakening is tonight..." I whispered.
"Are you sure that this sage is me?" Nanaki asked. "Who else has a flame at the end of their tale?" I asked. He sighed and looked over at the villiage people. "Nanaki you know they will be okay. Seto still watches over them!" I said. I opened my pouch on my hip and pulled something out. "Look, this is the first ring. Aeris left it in the temple." He looked at it and finally nodded. "Alright I will go with you," he relented. "Thank you Nanaki!" I said. We returned to the temple and I guided him into the room. "Listen Nanaki, Aeris was cursed when she opened the door. It will happen to every sage differently and you will have to fight it with all you've got!" I instructed him. He nodded and approached the second door. He stood on his rear legs and, bracing himself with his front paws against the wall, he pulled the ring out with his teeth. It fell from his mouth as the door slid open. From where I stood I could see straight into the room where the image of Nanaki was printed on the wall. He stood there looking up at it as if in a daze. He then dropped his head and wondered over to lay in the corner of the small room. Worried, I walked over to him and dropped to my knees. "Are you alright?" I asked him. "I feel so depressed," he mumbled. "None of this is going to work." "It will Nanaki," I said quietly. "No it won't," he replied sadly. "Please leave me with my thoughts." I stood up and Sephiroth walked up behind me. "I think I know who the next sage is," he told me. "His resposiblity is greater than any other's." He handed me the topaz ring that Nanaki dropped. I looked at it. "Nanaki is the sage of creation," I said. "Lets go get Reeve."
Reeve removed the amethyst ring and turned to toss it to me. I caught it as the door opened. I looked in and seen the picture of Reeve in violet robes. I backed up and bumped into the wall behind me. Reeve came back with a strange smile on his lips. Sephiroth stood studying the writing on the walls, forgetting about the curse. "You know what?" he asked me. "What?" I eyed him suspiciously. "I have decided that I don't like this responsibility. Who cares about the rest of the world! From now on I will only worry about myself. I have the power to gain more money and servants and to have anything I want!" he announced coming closer. "But, no matter how much I would hate to share, every great man needs a great woman. So what do you say Raven?" He winked. "Reeve!" I exclaimed then in a quiet voice. "What in the hell is wrong with you?! Have you gone mad? Sephiroth would kill you!" "I don't care," he told me. "I ALWAYS get what I want." He walked out of the room and I slid down the wall and hugged my knees. Sephiroth came to me and knelt down beside me. "You okay?" he asked softly. I nodded. "I can't figure this one out," he admitted. "He resided, unknown, for many years in the darkness, drawn out with promise to face his greatest enemy." "You should try asking Cloud," I said quietly. "I'll wait for you here." I looked up at him and he knodded, understanding. He got up and left, taking on last lingering glance at me before he went through the door.
Sephiroth opened his eyes and blinked several times to focus them. "Oh, you're awake!" Aldous exclaimed happily. "Raven!?" Sephiroth choked out. "Shes... not here..." Aldous answered. "How long have I been unconcious?" Sephiroth asked. Aldous looked down. "Sephiroth, you were in a coma," he told him. "What?! How long?!" Sephiroth leaped to his feet. "Six months," Aldous muttered reluctantly. "Oh no! The rings? My sword? Where's Raven?!!" Sephiroth panicked. Aldous handed Sephiroth a velvet bag and his sword. "Raven... she uhh..." "Out with it man!" Sephiroth insisted. "Raven has changed, master Sephiroth," Aldous said. "She is evil!" Sephiroth grabbed Aldous. "Raven is not evil!" he growled. "No she isn't but something inside of her changed," Aldous explained. "She tried to get back inside the temple but she didn't sound right so I refused to let her inside. The next day she came back screaming to be let in. I have never heard her so mean! She was trying to get to you. I could feel that she wanted to harm you. Your talisman reacted negatively to her presence. It is this curse, Sephiroth. You must revive the sages and quick!" Sephiroth tied the velvet bag to his belt. "You must hurry. You have five months to restore the sages," Aldous said. Sephiroth nodded and left the room. He was heading to the round room to find as much as he could before he journied out. He stepped into the large room only to find Aeris looking at the pictures. She spun around and glared at him. "What are you doing here?" Sephiroth asked. "Looking at the ridiculous life that my sister led," she huffed. If she even IS my sister." "Yeah she was pretty ridiculous wasn't she?" Sephiroth said. "Oh well. Since she's gone I guess she won't want this ring." He pulled the ring of Holy from his pouch at his waist. "Well it would look much better on me!" Aeris exclaimed taking it from him. "I never liked her anyways. Or you for that matter." She put the ring on her finger then she blinked several times and looked at Sephiroth. "Where is Raven?" she asked. "Wasn't she just here? No wait... I left didn't I? You were all gone when I came back. Did you find all of the sages? Is my sister alright?" "The curse of dishonesty is over," Sephiroth replied. Then he told Aeris what happened. "Oh no. This is bad," she replied. "Well we have to find the other sages." Sephiroth glanced around the room and spotted and open door that was where the alter once stood. He went inside and looked around. "What is it?" Aeris looked around. "Raven is in the crater. This room has all of the information I needed." He left the room and then went into the round room. He could hear a moan coming from the second room. He went inside to find Nanaki still laying on the floor. "I have nothing to live for," he moaned. "No one likes me. I am the very last of my kind. I am all alone." Sephiroth reached into the pouch and pulled out the topaz ring that was attached to a silver chain. "Since you are lonely I want you to have this," he told Nanaki. "What for?" Nanaki asked. "We are friends and I do not wish for you to be so sad," Sephiroth said. "Please accept my gift." "Okay. I will," Nanaki told him. Sephiroth put it around his neck and the curse of sadness was lifted. "You're good," Aeris replied. Sephiroth smiled. "All of this sweet talk I learned from Raven," he told her. Then his smile faded and he stood to leave. "We'll help you find her," Aeris said. "We will get her back." Sephiroth left the room with Aeris and Nanaki close behind.
"Sephiroth..." I began to cry. "I love you, Raven..." he cried. "The Promised Land is nothing to me without you." "Sephiroth..." I smiled with more joy than I thought possible. "I love you!" I glanced back up at my friends once more. "Jase! Take the black materia to Aldous. He will know what to do with it. Everyone... remember... I love you all......." The portal took me and Sephiroth and Cloud and Aeris.... we were gone......... "Remember what Raven told us. Lets get the hell out of here!" Vincent instructed. They began to run towards the exit of the temple. They were nearly there when the ground began to shake. The four leaped out the door just in time. The huge temple disappeared and the black materia was all that remained. Jase climbed down to get it and brought it back to the ledge. The four of them sat there in silence for awhile. "I can't believe they're gone," Reeve mumbled. "Are they... dead?" Jase asked, staring at the black materia. "I don't know," Vincent answered. "I don't think they are," Nanaki replied. "Hey guys!" they looked up at Cid, Tifa, Yuffie and Barret who were heading towards them. Tifa's smile faded when she seen that four people were missing. "Wha... what happened?" she asked worried. "What happened?" Vincent sighed. "Eight of us go in and four of us come out," Reeve muttered. "Where the @#*$& are they?" Cid asked. No one had the heart to answer right away. "Lets go back to the highwind," Jase said. "We'll tell you about it there," Nanaki finished.
"Sephiroth...?"
"I am here."
"Where are we?"
"I don't know."
"Why can't I see anything?"
"Because there is no light."
"Sephiroth?"
"Yeah?"
"Why didn't you go with Aeris?"
"I wanted to be with you."
"Sephiroth...."
"What is it, Raven?"
"..........I love you."
"And I love you... for all eternity....."
