The Other Side of the Mirror

by T'Shael

Chapter 11

Everyone stared at Aeris.

The sword above Sephiroth's head quivered. The Jenova cells fought to hold on to his mind. A bolt of pain went through his head. He lowered one hand to press his fingers against a throbbing temple.

"What?" his voice was hoarse.

"I'm pregnant," repeated Aeris. "I was going to tell you in a few more days."

The pain inside Sephiroth's head increased. He lowered his sword and closed his eyes. His body shuddered. The masamune fell from his hand and clattered to the stone floor. Closing his eyes, he pressed his other temple.

"You're going to be a father Sephiroth," said Aeris softly, "I'm going to have your baby."

Sephiroth opened his eyes and stared at her. Who was she? Memories swirled through his mind.

The village was burning. He saw himself walking through the flames and smoke, stepping over bodies. A woman lay dead in front of him. A small child crouched near her body sobbing. He looked up as Sephiroth approached.

"Help me," the little boy said in a frightened voice. "My mommy won't get up. Please help me."

He stared at the child feeling no sympathy for it. The voice in his head spoke urgently.

"It's one of THEM my son. One of those who take from our world but never gives in return. They don't belong here. Kill him Sephiroth, kill that parasite! He doesn't deserve to live. We must wipe them out my son. Kill him!"

Sephiroth smiled at the boy. "I'll help you,"

The child gave him a timid smile. Something about this man made him nervous, but the man was going to help. The boy looked down at his mother and stroked her hair. She was so pale. He looked back at the man. His eyes fell on the weapon for the first time. He opened his mouth to speak and froze as the man swung the blade away from him. At the tender age of five, he didn't much about the world around him, but something deep inside spelled out the man's intentions. The child's eyes followed the blade. He tried to scream as it came back . . .

Reflecting the fire, the masamune looked like molten steel. Sephiroth saw the look of surprise and fear on the child's face before the blade made contact with the small body . . .

The blade went through Aeris . . .

" I would be the most hated man on the planet."

" . . . Jenova made you do it . . . "

He screamed and fell to his knees.

"No! No! No!" Sephiroth tore at his hair, his eyes unfocused. "He was only a baby!"

Aeris reached out to him, but Jenova slapped her hand away and knelt beside Sephiroth. She tried to hug him, but he pushed her away.

The family was screaming inside their burning home. The parents huddled in the middle of the living room with their arms around four children.

"Let us out please!" begged the woman. "My children! Please let us go!"

Jenova whispered in Sephiroth's mind.

"How I longed to hold you in my arms, but THEY separated us when you were born. See how the parasites keep us apart while they keep their loved ones together! Kill them my son. Kill them before they kill us. They WILL kill us when we're no longer useful. Kill them!"

Sephiroth smiled at the mother and waved his hand.

"Come on out," he said. "Hurry! The roof is about to cave in!"

The woman turned to her husband and children. "Come on, he's letting us go."

She grabbed the hand of her oldest daughter.

"Get your sister," she said to the girl.

The girl did as she asked. The mother looked back at her husband.

"Bring the others!"

She hurried through the overheated room into the cool of the evening air. Fresh air was never sweeter.

"Thank you," she said to Sephiroth.

He smiled at her.

She held her hands together in gratitude. "I promise we won't come back and we'll never tell anyone what happened."

Turning back toward the burning house, she saw the fire had reached the living room. It was creeping up the walls. Her husband and the last two children were still standing there looking out at her. What was he waiting for? Releasing her daughters, she took a step toward the door.

The masamune slid through her body as easy as a knife through butter. The woman's eyes opened wide. Her husband clutched his children to him as they screamed in terror. Sephiroth pulled the blade free. She fell. The two little girls ran back toward the house. Only one made it. Sephiroth stood over her lifeles form grinning at the man inside. The man held his children's faces against his body as the roof collapsed . . .

The blade went through Aeris . . .

" I would be the most hated man on the planet."

" . . . Jenova made you do it . . . "

"NO!" Sephiroth's eyes were wild. "They didn't deserve that!"

Jenova reached for Sephiroth again. He crawled away from her making strange noises in his throat. She went after him.

The pregnant woman was trying to run away. Sephiroth took his time following her. She wouldn't get away from him. Nibelheim was dying tonight. The woman would die too. He laughed as he watched her stumble. She caught herself and kept running, pressing her hands to her swollen belly.

She looked back at him with a face covered with soot and tears. She stumbled again, but didn't go down. She couldn't keep up that pace forever.

"Look at her run," whispered Jenova. "They're breeding like rats. They fill up the world while they use you and me. They're laughing at us. Using us. Why should she live? Why should her baby live? Do you remember what they did to you? How they treated you? It was because they KNEW you were different. Except to drain us dry, they have no use for the Cetra. If we aren't their slaves, we're worthless to them. These parasites killed our race. They killed our families. Kill them Sephiroth. Burn and kill. We'll take our world back. The Cetra shall return. Kill them."

The pregnant woman couldn't run anymore. Exhausted, she dropped to her knees.

Sephiroth stopped in front of her holding his sword at his side.

"Please don't kill me," she begged. "Don't hurt my baby!"

"Listen to her beg," crackled Jenova. "They breed like rats. Kill them or you'll be overwhelmed!"

Sephiroth raised his blade.

"Please don't kill me Sephiroth!" the woman pleaded. "Please don't kill my baby! I'll do anything you want. I'll leave here and never come back. I won't tell anyone what happened. I won't tell anyone you killed my husband. Please, please, please don't kill me!"

Sephiroth lowered his blade and stared at her. He saw a hopeful spark in her eyes.

"Please don't kill me," she begged. "Please!"

He leaned forward as if to stroke her hair. She raised a tear stained face to his. He seized her hair and yanked her head back. Her eyes went wide with disbelief as he thrust the right through her midsection. Laughing, he pulled it free and shoved it in again. When he pulled it out this time, he let her fall to the ground. Dying, she lay trying to hold the wound closed with her hands. He left her there . . .

The blade went through Aeris . . .

" I would be the most hated man on the planet."

" . . . Jenova made you do it . . . "

"I didn't want to do that!" shouted Sephiroth. He turned wild green eyes in Jenova's direction. "How could you make me do that? How could I laugh?"

Jenova jerked Sephiroth to his feet.

"Pregnant?" He was shaking. "My baby?"

Cloud saw a spark of hope in Sephiroth's reaction.

"You heard her," he said. "You can't hurt Aeris or you'll hurt your baby too!"

Sephiroth squeezed his eyes shut.

"Shut up!" Jenova turned her hateful eyes to Cloud. "You won't turn him from me!"

She turned back to Sephiroth again.

"She's one of THEM," she said. "She'd say anything to make you weak. I'm your mother. Listen to me!"

"Sephiroth look at me!" cried Aeris. "Please look at me!"

"No!" screamed Jenova turning him around so his back was to Aeris. "I love you Sephiroth. You're my son. Listen to me."

"Sephiroth!" Aeris shouted. "Look at me!"

Sephiroth moved his head to look around Jenova. She tried to prevent it, but he grabbed her arms and with some difficulty, shoved her to one side to look at the girl on the floor. Aeris gazed into his eyes.

"She doesn't love you Sephiroth," said Aeris softly. "But I do. I love you."

He stared at her. His head was pounding. The pain radiated down his neck into his shoulders. He knew this girl didn't he? Mother said she was the enemy. He would kill her just like he did before . . .

The blade went through Aeris . . .

" I would be the most hated man on the planet."

" . . . Jenova made you do it . . . "

He shook his head trying to clear it.

0He was angry at the girl. She'd run ahead of him to a house, in a place full of danger. Her hand was on the doorknob. She was just about to open the door. He saw himself reaching for her, spinning her around. "Don't you ever do that again!"

Her staff lay near the water. Where was she? A pale blue face. She wasn't breathing. "Breathe Aeris, please breathe. She was so cold. She needed warmth. She would die without warmth. If she died, he didn't want to live without her . . . A man on a staircase. Please save her.

When had he said that?

She could have lost the baby . . .

He was sitting before a mirror. The girl was standing behind him with a comb. She was running it through his hair. By accident her hand brushed his shoulder and he shivered. Did she have feelings for him? He had feelings for her . . .

. . . She could have lost the baby . . .

Aeris held his eyes with her own. She could see the conflict in his face.

Jenova reached out to touch him and he brushed her hand away

They were in a room together. She was in his arms. Their lips touched . . . and he enjoyed it. He could have held her all night, but the door opened . . .

. . . she could have lost the baby . . .

The blade went through Aeris . . .

" . . . Jenova made you do it . . . "

Sephiroth threw his head back and screamed. Jenova hurried to him and held him in her arms. He clung to her in desperation. Who was he? Who was the girl? What was this place? Jenova was murmuring soothing words. He listened to her. The pain in his head began to subside.

"Sephiroth!" cried Aeris. "Sephiroth, no!"

Jenova aimed a victorious grin in Aeris direction but it was short lived. Sephiroth turned to look at the girl once more.

"What do you think of Cid's idea?"

"What idea?"

"The idea of getting married?"

". . . I want you to be my wife."

"Are you asking, or is this one of those situations where I know who's in command?"

Jenova slapped him to break his concentration. Her fingers found his face and liquefied They slid into to his skin up to her knuckles. Sephiroth sank to his knees. She followed him down whispering. Sephiroth blinked.

"Mother?"

"Yes, baby," she whispered. She removed her fingers and let him stand. She picked up his sword and gave it to him. "Kill her. Kill her now."

He's losing to Jenova again, thought Cloud. I have to do something!

"Could you kill your own child Sephiroth?" he asked. "That would be worse than what Hojo did to you."

Sephiroth's face twisted with pain.

The blade went through Aeris . . . and . . . the baby.

" . . . Jenova made you do it . . . "

He dropped the masamune, put his hands to his face and screamed.

A bolt of energy flew from Jenova's hand and struck Cloud.

"Shut up!" she shrieked.

Cloud cried out as a burning pain consumed him. He sagged, fighting to stay conscious.

Jenova pried Sephiroth's hands away from his face.

"Don't listen to them," she implored. "It's a trick to make you weak. I'm your mother. Why would I lie to you? She isn't pregnant. They're working together to make you weak. Are you going to let them do that? Don't you remember how it was before I came to you and set you free from their control?"

Trembling, Sephiroth stared at her.

"That's it baby," Jenova smiled at him. "I've always been there for you when you needed me. I'm here for you now."

Sephiroth's trembling eased.

Damn her! Thought Cloud. He pulled his chains to their limit.

"Like Hojo, like son!" He shouted at Sephiroth. "Why don't you let Aeris live so you can experiment on her and the baby like Hojo did with you and Lucrecia?"

Sephiroth stiffened. A vision formed in his mind.

Aeris was strapped to a table heavy with child. She was crying and telling him something about her baby, but he couldn't make out the words. It didn't matter. His mother said it didn't matter, so he wouldn't listen to her. Mother was always right. She was standing at his side nodding and smiling. He was doing the right thing. She gave him a hypo filled with a glowing green liquid. "They're breeding like rats!" she whispered. "Give the girl an injection my son. Let's see what happens to them . . . both of them."

" . . . Jenova made you do it . . . "

"She's going to loose the baby . . . "

" . . . Jenova made you do it . . . "

"NO!" roared Sephiroth. He swung his arm, striking Jenova with a powerful backhand blow. She sailed across the cave and crashed into a wall. Her face was almost comical as she slid to the floor stunned.

Sephiroth's head was on fire. He screamed again and dropped to the floor near Aeris, holding his head in both hands. He wasn't aware of anything except the pain. Aeris crawled to him and put her arms around his body. She laid her head on his trembling shoulder. She started to pray. As her lips moved silently, a golden glow surrounded them.

"That's right Aeris," urged Cloud. "Heal him."

"NO-O-O-O-O!" screeched Jenova, climbing to her feet. "I won't let you! Damn it! I won't let you."

Breath roaring in and out of her lungs, hands outstretched like claws, Jenova stormed her way toward Aeris and Sephiroth. They didn't acknowledge her presence. Jenova stood over them watching as Sephiroth buried his face against Aeris' shoulder and pulled her close to him. Aeris prayed on, her face damp with tears. Jenova's eyes were lethal.

"You meddling Cetra bitch!" wheezed Jenova. "I won't let you have him. If he won't kill you and your unborn brat . . . I WILL! I'll kill both of you! I'LL KILL ALL THREE OF YOU!"

She leaned over. When she stood up, the masamune was in her hands. With a gruesome smile, Jenova raised the blade over Aeris and Sephiroth.

Cloud's blood ran cold. His eyes widened in horror as the blade reached its summit. His horror ignited a white hot fury that began in his soul and rushed from him like a wave of heat from the bowels of a steel mill's furnace.

"NO-O-O-O!"

Straining forward, he turned his right palm instinctively toward the dark-haired woman as the blade began its downward sweep.

Time slowed down. In space of only milliseconds Jenova realized Cloud's manacles had shattered. Simultaneously she was engulfed in a blast that knocked the sword from her hand and hurled her against the cloning pods on the far wall. The pods caved in and crumpled under the impact. Tearing loose from their moorings, they folded over Jenova in a pile of twisted metal.

Jenova cried out as something gave inside her body. A sticky bluish fluid spilled over her lips. Emitting a sound unlike any Cloud had ever heard before, she struggled to free herself from the rubble.

Cloud stood staring at his hand as if he'd never seen it before. His Mako blue eyes were glowing like fiery gems. The radiance of the light around Sephiroth and Aeris increased. Cloud turned his attention away from his hand to look at them. The light was brilliant, but he found no need to squint as he watched the pain fade from Sephiroth's face. The bruises on Aeris' face vanished. The light around them grew dimmer and dimmer until it disappeared.

Sephiroth opened his eyes.

"Aeris?"

"It's me," she whispered. "Me and the baby."

He held her away from him. He raised one hand to touch her cheek.

"I hurt you," he said. "I'm sorry."

"It wasn't you," she answered softly. "It's all right."

Sephiroth shook his head. "I could have hurt the baby."

A strange look came over his face.

"Baby?"

Aeris nodded, her eyes were moist.

"I'm carrying your baby."

Sephiroth reached out to touch her stomach but hesitated. Aeris caught his hand and pressed it there. He looked up at her with wonder in his eyes.

"You're pregnant?"

She nodded, a tear slipped down her cheek.

"I'm going to be a father?"

She nodded again.

"We're going to have a baby?"

Aeris nodded once more.

"A baby? A little you and me?"

Aeris laughed. "A little you and me."

Sephiroth didn't know what to do, what to say, or how to act. He want to shout, dance, celebrate and tell the world. Was it a boy? Was it a girl? He was going to be a father. Now there were two wonderful things in his life. Aeris . . . and his baby. She was smiling at him, her eyes were wet with tears. She was so beautiful. He crushed her to him, and froze. He loosened his grip a little. He didn't want to hurt the baby.

"I love you." he said.

"I know," she hugged him back. "I know Sephiroth."

Cloud stood back watching in awe. He never thought he'd live this long. Sephiroth was actually showing an emotion other than the spite and coldness he was used to seeing.

The sound of rending metal bought their attention back to the present.

Jenova tore the last of the damaged pods away from her body She stood scowling, waving tentacles instead of arms.

"Hojo was wrong about you," she said to Cloud. "Our cells have mutated in you after all, or you wouldn't be able to use that power. It doesn't matter. You don't know how to control it or you would have escaped a long time ago!"

She jabbed a finger in their direction. A sizzling ball of energy flew straight for them. Sephiroth flicked his hand. The ball crashed against Wall and shattered. An explosion rocked the cave, causing rocks and dust to fall from the ceiling. Sephiroth shielded Aeris with his body. Cloud protected his head as under he dived under the stretcher for his sword.

Jenova howled in fury and her body began to change.

"She's taking on her true form!" shouted Sephiroth.

"Aeris! Your leg!" Cloud raised his sword.

Aeris stretched out her leg. Cloud brought his sword down on the chain. It broke away from the leg cuff. He leaned down, picked up Sephiroth's sword and ran for the entrance.

"Let's get out of here before she buries us!" he yelled.

Sephiroth picked up Aeris and rushed after Cloud. Behind them Jenova kept growing.

They were temporarily blinded as they ran into the sunlight but they didn't stop until they were felt they were a safe distance from the cave. Sephiroth stopped near Cloud and put Aeris down. They looked back. The walls of the mountain that housed the cave were collapsing.

"She's going to come through the roof!" cried Aeris.

"Stay back Aeris," warned Sephiroth.

"I can help!"

He touched her face. "For our baby's sake . . . stay back . . . please."

Aeris smiled at him. "Be careful. We need you."

She touched his face and hurried away.

"I'll fight her to my last," said Cloud. "But I don't have much materia with me."

"You may not need it," said Sephiroth, giving Cloud a quick glance. "Here she comes."

Still growing, Jenova emerged from the top of the mountain like a volcanic eruption. Boulders flew everywhere.

Sephiroth tracked one with his eyes. Aeris was hurrying to a nearby hillside. She didn't see the boulder that would crush her to death. He cast a Comet spell to deflect it. The boulder veered off course and landed several yards away in another area. Sephiroth kept watch on Aeris and the boulders until he knew she was safe. He turned back toward Jenova.

The alien was frowning at him. "I always thought love was a foolish human idiosyncrasy but I was wrong. Apparently, it's a lot stronger than I suspected. If I had known the Cetra had so much power over you, I would have drugged you and killed her myself!"

"It's a mistake you won't live to regret," replied Sephiroth.

"Neither of you are worth my time and trouble," she said. "I can take this planet by myself!"

"You'll never have this Planet!" retorted Cloud.

"As if you have any in the matter," grinned Jenova. "You don't know who you're dealing with little boy."

"You're the only one who doesn't belong here," said Sephiroth. "It's time to rid the Planet of your presence once and for all."

"You weakling!" hissed Jenova. "We could have ruled this planet together! I had so many dreams for you Sephiroth. What a disappointment you turned out to be!"

Sephiroth smiled. "Thank you."

He raised his sword.

Cloud gave Sephiroth a strange look then raised his sword to Jenova.

"She's not so tough," he said. "Take out her arms and she's helpless."

"I heard that," snarled Jenova, dropping lower. "Try it!"

She slapped Cloud off his feet with a tentacle.

Sephiroth dived between her tentacles and cast Mbarrier on Cloud just as Jenova used her Blue Light.

Cloud felt a mild electric shiver go through his body.

He blinked in surprise.

"That hurt a lot worse the last time," he said.

"That's because you didn't know what you were doing," answered Sephiroth from his place beneath Jenova. He leaped high into the air slashing at her spherical body. The tip of his masamune cut through one of her purple hearts. She made a garbled sound and slapped at him.

She missed.

Sephiroth rejoined Cloud.

Cloud found himself getting angry. "I must have known something, I beat you twice didn't I?"

He cast this strongest Comet spell. It slammed into Jenova enlarging the wound in her heart. Blue fluid splattered on the ground in thick droplets.

"That's your claim to fame isn't it?" asked Sephiroth. He ripped a gash in one of Jenova's tentacles.

"I'll kill you!" she cried. She fired a laser from the tip of a tentacle at Sephiroth.

He jumped out of the way. It tore a deep hole in the ground.

"It's better than yours!" snapped Cloud, dodging another slap.

Sephiroth used his strongest Fire spell.

"You were just lucky," he shot at Cloud, "I could have killed you in the library."

Jenova slapped at Cloud again and struck Mbarrier.

"You and what army?" Cloud spared a quick look at his ally.

Their eyes widened as Jenova cast Debarrier.

"She didn't use that before! said Cloud.

"I said you didn't know anything," smirked Sephiroth. "I should have let you go on thinking you were Zack!"

He cast Wall to cover them both, seconds before Jenova used her Red Light.

Cloud felt a stronger tingle this time, but he recovered. He couldn't resist.

"At least I didn't think Jenova was my mother."

Sephiroth turned to Cloud with anger in his eyes.

"You're beginning to get on my nerves Cloud."

Cloud turned to face him.

"You've been on my nerves ever since you came back. If it wasn't for Aeris-"

"You'd do what?" asked Sephiroth raising his sword.

"I take you out again," answered Cloud.

"I'm getting tired of hearing you say that." Sephiroth took a step toward Cloud. "My mind was on other things and you were a low class trooper. I had no reason to think you were a threat. My mistake, when we met the first two times, was not taking you seriously. I'm warning you Cloud, the next time one of us falls, it won't be me."

"Maybe it's time we find out once and for all." Cloud took a step toward Sephiroth.

"Maybe it is," said Sephiroth menacingly.

"Fine" Cloud held his sword in the ready position. "Let's do it."

Aeris screamed.

Sephiroth and Cloud looked up just in time to see Jenova's tentacles flying toward them. She'd cast Debarrier again without their noticing. The impact sent them flying. Cloud felt a rib crack as slammed into the ground. Sephiroth felt a numbing pain as he fell on his left arm.

Jenova's grin was pure evil as she looked over their heads and saw Aeris standing on a hill watching the battle."

"There you are!" Jenova laughed in triumph. "I'm going to finish you off myself!"

She sailed over Sephiroth and Cloud and rushed toward Aeris.

Aeris' eyes widened in fear. She turned to flee.

"Aeris!" Sephiroth sat up, mentally cursing himself for wasting time sparring with Cloud instead of paying attention to the matter at hand. His arm burned.

Cloud sat up pressing a hand to his ribs. I can't believe I was arguing with Sephiroth instead of paying attention to the fight, he thought. Breathing was painful.

Sephiroth looked toward Cloud and cast a Cure spell.

"Get up!" he snapped. "Don't let her kill Aeris!"

The pain in Cloud's chest diminished. He stood up and grabbed his Ultima Weapon.

Sephiroth cast Cure on himself. The pain in his arm went down to a throb. He grabbed his masamune.

They ran after the alien.

Jenova was closing fast. Aeris knew she wasn't going to make it to any kind of shelter before the alien caught up with her. She dropped to the ground and rolled into a ball. She prayed frantically. Jenova reached her, just as her body began to glow.

"Meddling, interfering Cetra bitch!" screamed Jenova. She beat at Aeris' body with her tentacles. Her anger soared when she realized her blows were ineffective. The glow was protecting Aeris from harm.

"I'll smash through your pitiful barrier!" she screamed, pounding as hard as she could. She tried Blue Light, then Red Light. She howled in fury when they didn't work. "You won't be able to keep that shield up forever! I'm going to beat you to death the moment it fails. Die! Die! Die!"

Aeris kept her body rolled as tight as she could, protecting her abdomen. The Planet Protector spell made Jenova's blows feel like light drumming against her body. Red Light and Blue Light were only mildly uncomfortable. She was safe now, but the spell wouldn't last long. When it wore off, Aeris knew she would never be able to cast again it in time to save herself. Jenova would crush her like an eggshell. She closed her eyes hoping Cloud and Sephiroth would come to her rescue.

The sight of Jenova trying to beat Aeris to death enraged Sephiroth. Jenova, like Hojo had used him for her own means. She'd caused him to waste his first two lives and now she was about to put an end to his third. Aeris was carrying his child and Jenova was trying to murder both of them. He would never allow that to happen. Not as long as there was breath in his body. Aeris and his baby were going to live.

"JENOVA!" he roared, "Leave her alone. It's me you want. I'm right here. Come and get me."

"Come and get US!" corrected Cloud. "Pick on someone who can fight back, you bitch!"

Jenova turned away from Aeris. A steady flow of blue liquid ran from her mouth. Her eyes were demented. "You're both going to die!"

"Run!" Sephiroth whispered to Cloud. "We've got to get her away from Aeris."

Cloud nodded. "Where?"

Sephiroth flicked his eyes toward their destination then back at Cloud.

"Ready?"

"Ready!"

They turned and ran away from Jenova.

They heard deranged laughing behind them.

"YOU WON'T GET AWAY FROM ME!"

Sephiroth and Cloud keep running. They managed to run thirty yards before Jenova sailed over their heads and wheeled around. Even as they slid to a stop in front of her Sephiroth cast Super Nova. Jenova too busy gloating over her ability to run them now to notice.

"You think you can run from me?" She laughed crazily. "No my sons, you can't run from your mother. You've been very naughty and mommy is going to have to punish you for it."

Sephiroth bumped Cloud gently with his arm.

"Get ready to run," he whispered.

"Let's beat her and get it over with," Cloud whispered back.

A pinpoint of light appeared in the sky over Jenova.

Jenova raised her tentacles. "You're about to meet your doom."

"Go to hell!" shouted Cloud.

"After you!" screeched Jenova.

Sephiroth looked at Jenova and glanced back at the light. It was brighter now.

"Get ready to RUN," he whispered

Cloud raised his sword. "Not this time."

"Super Nova." Sephiroth glanced at him.

Cloud's eyes widened.

"Run!" yelled Sephiroth.

He wheeled around and took off running. Cloud took off after him.

Jenova snorted. She was just about to move when the summon slammed into her full force. She was knocked out of the sky face first into the dirt. Her tentacles went numb, and a crack appeared in two of her rear plates. When she picked herself up and rose a few feet into the sky, there was a four foot circular depression in the ground. Her damaged heart had stopped beating and another was seriously injured. Her body shook as she coughed up more blue blood.

Sephiroth and Cloud stood watching her. Slowly she made her way to them.

"You think you've put me out of commission, but I'm tougher than you think." She raised her tentacles above her body. Between her fingers, a ball of blue energy began to form. "You've never seen this power before and you have no defense against it. I'm going to take both of you out at the same time."

"Poor Sephiroth, you're never going to see that bastard baby of yours. I've just decided to let the Cetra live. I'm going to keep her at the Crater. It suddenly occurs to me that I might have some use for the baby. After all, it's going to have your powers. When it's born, I'll kill her. The baby won't be able to fight back when I infuse him with my cells. I'll have full control of his mind. My new son will learn early how to appreciate and obey his mother!"

"And Cloud . . . Jenova looked smug. I'll amuse myself with, what's her name? Tifa? Yes that's it. I'm going to take Tifa to the Northern Crater and rip her limbs off one at a time just to hear her scream. I'll leave her for the wildlife to finish off. Is she pregnant too? Maybe I'll dissect her and find out. What fun that will be. After I'm through with Tifa, I'll go after AVALANCHE. They're nothing without you. They're as good as dead! Good riddance to both of you!"

The ball of blue had grown twice its size. Jenova swung her tentacles back to fling it at them.

Sephiroth glanced at Cloud. "Raise your palm!"

"I can't use that power again," said Cloud. "I don't know how!"

"Raise your palm!"

Cloud raised his palm Sephiroth put his hand on the back of Cloud's.

To Cloud's surprise, Sephiroth's hand grew hot against his skin. He felt a strange sensation as if pressure was building up inside his body. It grew quickly beyond his control. Just as it felt as if he might explode, his palm was suddenly as hot as Sephiroth's. A single beam streaked straight for the alien. Jenova ducked, dipping her human-like torso so far toward the ground, she was almost standing on her head. The beam struck her rear plates Her body was suddenly overcome by horrific vibrations .

In her haste to duck, she forgot about the energy ball. Her sudden movement caused it to flip off the tip of her fingers. It rose high in the air and came down inside the gigantic plates as neatly as a ball into a hoop. It rolled directly beneath one of the large red tubes connecting the plates together. The ball fused itself to the tube and the fleshy surface beneath. It continued to grow.

Jenova screeched in pain. The vibrations rattled her teeth, sending waves of pain throughout her body. She could feel the energy ball burning into her flesh, but she was helpless as long as the vibrations continued. The moment they ceased, she tried to reach back with a tentacle to remove the ball from its resting place. Her tentacle wasn't long enough. Jenova began a series of wild gyrations and cartwheels in the sky. Her frantic movements couldn't dislodge it.

Aeris ran to Sephiroth. He put his arms around her.

Cloud stood beside them as the alien streaked by screaming like a freight train. The air around them was alive with static electricity. Her passage made their hair stand on end. The energy ball flashed and brilliant blue bolts began to stream out of Jenova's plates in all directions. Wherever the bolts touched the ground, they left smoking holes and scorch marks. The alien turned and rushed toward them again leaving a trail of destruction in her wake.

"We've got to get out of here," shouted Cloud.

"There's no place to go!" Sephiroth answered. "Get down! Aeris use your Planet Protector again. I'm going to cast Wall. Cloud, get over here but stay out of my way!"

Cloud crouched, turning to glare at Sephiroth.

Sephiroth cast Wall, pulling Aeris down beside him. She closed her eyes to pray. They began to glow as Jenova passed overhead spinning in circles. Energy bolts crackled over their bodies harmlessly while it burned away the plant life around them.

When they dared to look up again, Jenova was drifting away in the distance. The energy ball was so big now, it was forcing the gigantic plates apart. Jenova's mouth was open but the screaming had stopped. One of the plates split down its center.

"Duck!" yelled Cloud.

Aeris and Sephiroth followed his advice.

They felt and heard the huge explosion. The ground heaved beneath them. Without Wall or the Planet Protector, they all would have been killed. Shaken, they raised their heads. Scattered all around them were patches of Jenova's burning flesh. There were no trees or grass in a mile wide radius.

Sephiroth helped Aeris to her feet.

Cloud stood up and surveyed the area around them.

"It might be a good idea to have Cid bring the Highwind and blast this area with a few missiles so we can make sure there aren't any more Jenova cells alive around here," he said.

"I agree," said Aeris.

"I'm going to be right there when you do that," said Sephiroth. "This time I'll know the job was done right."

Cloud glared at him.

"What do we do now?" cut in Aeris.

Sephiroth looked at Cloud "Well? Are you still in charge?"

Cloud rolled his eyes at Sephiroth and spoke directly to Aeris. "We can walk to Wauti. We'll have to call for the Highwind if we want to get home."

"Can you make it?" Sephiroth looked at Aeris in concern.

"I'm tired, but I'm okay," she answered. "Let's go."

"Are you sure?" he asked. "Maybe we should rest for a while."

"I've done a lot of walking in my time," chided Aeris. "I'm pretty sure I'll make it to town."

"You weren't pregnant then," Sephiroth eyed her speculatively. "Now I know why you've been so tired lately."

"Sephiroth," said Aeris patiently, "I'm not going to fall apart. Let's go."

"You heard the lady," said Cloud. He turned and started walking. "Come on."

Sephiroth gave him a frosty look, but he followed with his arm around Aeris.

They walked in silence for a while.

"You're not my brother," said Cloud to Sephiroth.

"Good," replied the silver haired man. "I don't want to be."

Aeris sighed.

"Your children won't be my son's cousins either," added Sephiroth. "Don't get any ideas about being an uncle."

"I shudder to think of it," replied Cloud.

Aeris looked up at the sky and rolled her eyes.

"It's a good thing you live in another town," added Cloud. "I won't have to worry about you teaching your son to take over my yard."

"You're wrong about that. The good thing is I won't have to hear you complaining about my son beating up yours," smirked Sephiroth, "

Cloud stopped walking. "What makes you think your son will be able to beat up mine?"

"What makes you think yours can stop him?" Sephiroth stopped too.

"Your son will probably be all talk, just like you," said Cloud narrowing his eyes.

"You think so?" Sephiroth frowned at Cloud.

"If you guys don't stop, I'll scream!" said Aeris suddenly. "I'm tired of hearing you fight all the time. Knock it off!"

She walked away from them. Cloud and Sephiroth gave each other one more glare and hurried to catch up with her.

"I'm sorry Aeris," said Sephiroth.

"So I am," added Cloud. "I guess we can get along for a little while. There's been enough fighting today."

They walked in silence again.

"What was my mother's name?" asked Cloud suddenly. "My real mother?"

"I don't know," answered Aeris. "I never asked my father that."

"I never knew the truth," he said quietly. "I loved the woman who raised me, but I wish I'd known the truth about my past."

Sephiroth glanced at Cloud, thinking of his own past.

"She loved you," said Aeris touching Cloud's shoulder. "Just as your real mother did. Don't be sad. I'm sure your real mother appreciates what your foster mother did."

"We have a lot in common," said Sephiroth.

Cloud braced himself for a nasty remark but Sephiroth surprised him.

"All of us lost our mothers to Shinra and none of us knew the whole truth about our lives."

Cloud looked at him curiously. "That power I used on Jenova . . . I never knew I could do that."

Sephiroth didn't look at him.

"You know how to control yours Sephiroth,"Cloud went on. "What do I have to do?"

Sephiroth's answer was short. "Practice."

Cloud digested that in silence. After a while he spoke again.

"That's what you were going to do when Aeris stopped you the day we came to tell you about the Jenova samples wasn't it?" asked Cloud.

Sephiroth turned away, his eyes expressionless. "I wasn't going to kill you. You'd just have been a little sore after you bounced off one of the living room walls."

"Why are we still fighting Sephiroth?" asked Cloud suddenly. "Shinra is gone. The Planet is safe and you have another chance at life. Why does our quarrel go on?"

"You hate me. Remember?" Sephiroth didn't look at Cloud as he spoke. "I killed your family and your town."

Cloud looked down at his feet as he walked. He'd always thought Sephiroth was lying when he said he wasn't in control of himself when he burned down Nibelheim. As far as Cloud was concerned Sephiroth was using Jenova as an scapegoat to excuse all the wrong he'd done. Cloud was silent for a moment.

"I didn't realize until now how strong Jenova's determination to control could be."

Sephiroth didn't answer.

"Even though she got you to burn down two houses, you put up a hell of a fight back there."

Now that the first part was out, it seemed easier to say the rest.

"I'm not so sure I would have held up half as well as you." Cloud looked at Sephiroth. Sephiroth kept his eyes in front of him. "I knew Jenova was dangerous, but I never pictured her as vicious as she really was."

Aeris hoped Sephiroth would speak, but he didn't respond to Cloud's words.

Cloud tried again. "You set up Mbarrier to protect me from Jenova."

"Sephiroth?" Aeris took his hand.

He looked at her then turned his eyes to Cloud.

"You saved Aeris and me," he said. "And you help me remember who I was."

They both looked away. Neither of them spoke. Aeris waited. When the silence went on, she finally spoke up.

"Don't either of you have something to say to the other?"

"Like what?" they asked in unison.

"Like maybe it's time to apologize for the past and try to get along?" she asked. "Maybe you could be even be friends?"

"What?" Cloud's head snapped around. "Why in the world would I want to get along with Sephiroth?"

"I don't make friends with failure clones." Sephiroth replied.

"I'm not too much of a failure if I can save your life," said Cloud.

"I should have let Jenova use full strength Blue Light on you," answered Sephiroth. "Then you wouldn't have anything to crow about."

"I faced Blue Light before," said Cloud. "I survived it just fine."

"I wouldn't brag about that," countered Sephiroth, "Not when I didn't have all my materia with me. Where's yours? Don't you know better than to face an enemy half prepared?"

"I'm prepared to show you what I can do to an enemy without materia!" said Cloud giving Sephiroth a hostile look.

"I'm terrified," smirked Sephiroth. "Absolutely terrified."

Aeris threw back her head and screamed. Startled, both men stopped and stared at her.

"What's wrong? Are you ill?" Sephiroth's eyes moved over her anxiously.

"I'm not ill." Aeris threw up her hands. "I give up."

Cloud and Sephiroth glared at each other but they didn't throw any more barbs.

Aeris breathed a sigh of relief as a miner spotted them and turned his chocobo wagon in their direction.

* * * * *

Having saturated the site of Jenova's death with 32 missiles, the Highwind was racing back to Rocket Town. Aeris and Sephiroth stood on the observation deck together, watching the landscape below. Cloud and Tifa stood whispering together on the port side of the ship. The rest of AVALANCHE milled about watching Cid pace the deck. Shera was in labor.

At top speed, the Highwind touched down in Rocket Town less than thirty minutes later. Cid raced down the ramp to the Rocket Town Community Hospital. The others followed as soon as they could. Cid went through a pack of cigarettes before he was asked to step up to the nursery window. When a nurse held up his baby boy, the pilot passed out with a happy look on his rugged face.