The Other Side of The Mirror

by T'Shael

Chapter 9

Cid picked up Yuffie, Vincent and Red XIII before returning to Cloud's house in Nibelheim. After three hours of talking, no one had come up with an idea of how to find Cloud and Sephiroth.

"Can you feel Sephiroth now?" asked Tifa.

"Yes." Aeris still looked pale. "I can feel him, but I don't know where he is."

"Can you feel Cloud?" asked Yuffie.

"No." Aeris rubbed a hand over her eyes. "I can't feel Cloud."

"Can you Tifa?" asked Red.

Tifa shook her head. "I never could sense Cloud the way Aeris and Sephiroth can sense each other. All I feel is a terrible sense of loss because he's gone."

Vincent knew both girls were upset but he was especially concerned about Aeris. He had never seen her so quiet before. The lack of color in her face told him she was taking Sephiroth's disappearance very hard. He knew better than anyone what it felt like to lose a loved one. He wished he had the words to make them both feel better, but he didn't. He could only sympathize with their pain.

"We'll find them sooner or later, " said Cid. "Don't worry."

Tifa gave him a wan smile.

Aeris closed her eyes.

Cloud didn't like what he was seeing. Sephiroth was wide awake. He lay watching Jenova quietly. The drugged look was gone from his eyes, but he was making no attempt to free himself. Jenova pressed her fingers against Sephiroth's face again. Her fingers melted into his flesh. He gasped but didn't try to pull away. Jenova hovered over him keeping her hands in his flesh. She stared into his eyes. After a while she removed her fingers and pulled away. Sephiroth's eyes closed.

"Sephiroth?" Jenova spoke in a soft voice. "Can you hear me?"

"Yes mother," he said. "I hear you."

"What the hell?" Cloud felt a cold chill go through his body.

"Who are you?" Jenova watched Sephiroth carefully. "What is your purpose?"

"I am Sephiroth, your son," he said. "I am here to help you take your rightful place as ruler of his planet."

Jenova stroked his face. "You are my son again."

"You brainwashed him!" accused Cloud.

"I merely reclaimed what was mine," said Jenova. She removed the restraints that held Sephiroth to the stretcher. He sat up. Jenova gave him his sword.

"You may go outside and practice a bit," she said. "We have an errand to run tonight. I want you to be ready."

"Yes mother." He nodded to her and carried his blade outside.

Jenova turned toward Cloud. "I'm going to test his obedience tonight. If all goes well, I'll start on you in the morning."

"What do you mean you are going to test his obedience tonight?" asked Cloud. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm taking Sephiroth to Nibelheim," said Jenova. "I want him to repeat history."

Cloud's eyes blazed with fury. "You're going to make Sephiroth burn down Nibelheim again?"

"I'm not going to MAKE Sephiroth do anything." Jenova smiled. "He's going to want to do it. He's going to kill every man, woman and child there. Just like he did before."

Cloud strained against his bonds. He could feel the manacles cutting into his ankles and wrists. "Why are you doing this? Sephiroth was finished with taking orders from you. He had a better life than he had before. Why do you want to take that from him?"

"You mean the Cetra." Jenova frowned. "I won't let her stop me again. Sephiroth will see to that."

"Sephiroth won't hurt Aeris," said Cloud. "He loves her."

"Sephiroth doesn't even remember Aeris now," laughed Jenova. "When I tell him to kill her, he'll do it without a moments hesitation. I'm going to personally witness her death."

"You bitch!" Cloud was shaking with fury. "Leave Aeris alone!"

"That reminds me," said Jenova. "I saw a girl in your room."

Cloud's face turned white.

"It wouldn't do to kill the Cetra only to have your lady friend get in my way." Jenova smiled. "She was the one who helped you when you couldn't pull your mind together wasn't she? Maybe the Cetra isn't the only female I need to get out of my way."

Cloud lost it for a few minutes as he tried to fight his way out of his bonds by physical strength alone. Unsuccessful, he finally collapsed, panting for breath. "If you make me harm Tifa, I'll kill you!"

"So her name is Tifa! Thank you!" said Jenova. "As of this moment, Miss Tifa is under the sentence of death. You won't even miss her when she's gone."

Cloud screamed.

"Screaming about it won't help you," said Jenova, as she walked to the door of the cave. "I hope you took a long look at her when you saw her last. You'll never look at her the same way again."

"Come on Aeris," said Tifa. "I feel bad too, but we've both got to keep up our strength."

Aeris shook her head. "I'm not hungry Tifa."

Tifa took Aeris by the shoulders. "Sephiroth would want you to take care of yourself Aeris. You know he would. You've been looking pale all day. The Planet's cries have really drained you. If you hear it call again in your condition, I'm afraid of what might happen to you. Please eat."

Aeris closed her eyes.

"Aeris . . . please." Tifa's eyes were moist.

"Okay," said Aeris at last. "I'll try Tifa."

She sat at the table and Tifa prepared two plates of food. She sat one in front of Aeris. She moved to a seat opposite her friend.

"I don't know where Cloud and Sephiroth are, but we've got to believe they're all right," said Tifa. "You have to have faith Aeris."

"I know what you're saying," Aeris pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. "It's just that I'm afraid of what might be happening to him."

"What do you think is happening?" asked Tifa.

"I don't know." Aeris picked at her food. "I'm uneasy about the way the Planet is affecting us this time. This isn't the way it was before my first death."

Something about the way Aeris said "first death" made Tifa uneasy.

"Do you think . . . " she hesitated. "Do you feel like you're going to die this time too?"

Aeris eyes were haunted. "I don't know."

"No more gloomy thoughts," said Tifa firmly. "Eat your dinner. The guys are at the Inn and we'll get together again in the morning. Cheer up Aeris. Things will work out for us."

Aeris gave her a weary smile and took a bite of her dinner.

Sephiroth stood in his battle uniform waiting for orders. Jenova walked around him with a pleased expression on her face.

"See what you can find if you look long enough!" she boasted. "I found this uniform in the rubble of the Shinra building. Now you look like the son I know."

"Yes mother." Sephiroth's eyes Mako eyes were vacant.

"Sephiroth." Cloud pulled at his chains. "Don't listen to her. Kill her Sephiroth. You have your sword. Kill Jenova."

Sephiroth turned his blank eyes to Cloud. "I would never hurt my mother."

"She isn't your mother, DAMN IT!" yelled Cloud. "Fight her! Sephiroth. Fight her!"

Sephiroth regarded Cloud a moment longer than turned his blank eyes away to stare at nothing.

"You're wasting your time," crackled Jenova. "My cells are strong. He has a tumor inside his brain now. It's growing. The more it grows the more grows my control. Soon he will be just an extension of my own body. My enforcer."

"Meteor is gone!" growled Cloud. "So is the black materia. You can't use that against us again."

"What makes you think I can't find a large meteor on my own and divert its course toward this planet?" asked Jenova.

"You can't do that!" shouted Cloud. His wrists were bleeding.

"When you're part of the family," said Jenova. "You'll learn exactly what I can do. You're going to help me do it."

"Never!" yelled Cloud.

"This is where I came in," said Jenova covering a yawn. "Come Sephiroth. It's time to go."

Sephiroth turned obediently and walked to the cave's entrance. Jenova looked back at Cloud and smiled. "Don't wait up."

All he could do is aim murderous looks at her back.

Tifa woke up the sound of screaming. She raised her head and turned to the window. A yellow light flickered beyond the pane. Fire! Quickly she sat up and grabbed a robe. She pulled it on as she raced to the window. A house on the other side of the village was on fire. Tifa pushed her feet into slippers and hurried out the bedroom. She ran into Aeris and Yuffie. Both were wearing their robes and slippers.

"What is it?" asked Aeris. "What's going on?"

"Fire!" cried Tifa. "Let's see if we can help! We've got to get those people out of the house!"

"C'mon," yelled Yuffie.

The girls ran down the stairs and out the front door. A crowd was already gathered in front of the burning house.

The family, a man his wife and two small children were standing in front of the house, clinging to each other in fright.

Barret, Cid, Vincent and Red came running up just a second house burst into flame. It's terrified occupants ran out the front door.

"What in the hell is going on?" shouted Barret.

Yuffie pointed up in the sky. "Look!"

Everyone looked up then the crowd scattered screaming in fright. Cid, Yuffie, Barret, Red, Tifa, Aeris and Vincent stood their ground. Jenova, in her natural form, lowered herself a few feet above the ground and hovered. She didn't notice them standing there. Her eyes were on the burning houses.

"Excellent!" she cried. "Burn it! Burn it all to the ground!"

"Shit!" Cid dropped his cigarette. "I thought we killed that bitch!"

Jenova turned at the sound of his voice. She recognized him and smiled. "So we meet again."

"How in the hell did you come back?" asked Barret. "We killed your ugly ass."

"You didn't do a very good job," replied Jenova. "I'm back and this time you'll all die."

"You didn't stand against our combined power before," said Vincent, "And you won't stand before it now."

"You're on your own this time you witch!" shouted Yuffie. "We're going to take you out!"

"Oh." Jenova touched her forehead with a tentacle. "You think I'm alone don't you? Allow me to introduce my son."

Sephiroth stepped out of the first burning house in his black battle wear. The masamune was in his hands. He looked toward AVALANCHE and smiled. They stared back in shock.

"He's joined Jenova again," said Tifa in a small voice.

"Goddamn it!" muttered Barret. "I knew all that talk of changing his stripes was a bunch of shit."

"Oh man!" Yuffie backed up a step. "How are we supposed to get rid of both of them at the same time?"

"This doesn't make sense," said Red. "Sephiroth ran off to join Jenova?"

"Where's Cloud?" shouted Tifa. "What did you do to him?"

"Cloud is with me." Jenova smiled. "You'll see him soon. He's on my side now, just like Sephiroth. My sons are going to help their mother into her rightful place as ruler of this planet and the universe."

"WHAT?" Tifa's eyes were bright with tears. "You're crazy! Cloud would never help you!"

"I'll make sure he comes to see you first!" sneered Jenova. "Don't think for one moment that you'll come out of that encounter alive."

Before anyone could stop her, Aeris darted around her friends and ran toward Sephiroth.

"Sephiroth!" she cried stopping in front of him. "What are you doing?"

He stared at her impassively.

"Don't do this," Aeris cried. "Don't join Jenova again."

She reached out to touch him and he struck her across the face. Aeris fell to the ground on her back. Her friends cried out in anger and alarm. Aeris lay looking up at Sephiroth with a dazed expression on her face.

Vincent fired his Death Penalty point blank at Sephiroth's chest. Sephiroth turned his head toward Vincent, at the same instant the dark-haired man pulled the trigger. The bullets vaporized and exploded before they reached their target.

"What the-" Cid's cigarette fell out of his mouth.

Red started forward. Sephiroth dropped to one knee beside Aeris and put one hand on her throat. Red XIII froze. Sephiroth fixed his former allies with a cold stare. Aeris tried to pull his hand away from her throat but he gave a one quick shake and she stopped fighting him. He kept his eyes on AVALANCHE. He wasn't squeezing . . . yet.

"Ah, the Cetra," said Jenova in a placating voice. "I was going to Icicle Village to fetch you after our little jaunt here. How nice of you to save me the trouble."

"You leave her alone!" screamed Tifa.

"No can do," said Jenova. "I want to watch her die . . . privately if you don't mind. I want to enjoy every moment of her death."

She waved her tentacles toward the stunned group. A brilliant flash of light enveloped them. Seconds later they were thrown off their feet by a powerful blast. When they recovered their vision and senses, Aeris, Sephiroth and Jenova were gone.

Tifa stood up scanning the dark sky. "Where did she go?"

"I couldn't see a thing when she blasted us," said Yuffie. "There's no telling where she went."

"She's got Aeris," said Red. "She's going to let Sephiroth kill her again. We have to stop her."

"How?" shouted Barret. "We don't even know where they went!"

"How in the hell did this happen?" Cid scratched his head. "Did you see what Sephiroth did to Aeris? What's wrong with him? How could he do that to her?"

"Did you hear what Jenova said to Tifa?" asked Vincent. "If she's going to let Sephiroth kill Aeris, what do you think is going to happen to Tifa when Cloud gets here?"

Everyone stared at the dark-haired girl.

Tifa raised her head defiantly. "Cloud wouldn't hurt me. He loves me."

"Sephiroth sure as hell didn't have any problem hurting Aeris," interjected Cid. "If Cloud is working for Jenova, he might find it just as easy to hurt you too."

"Don't say that!" said Tifa hotly. "Cloud wouldn't hurt me!"

"I hate to say this Tifa," Barret looked uncomfortable. "But I agree with Cid and Vincent. If our spiky headed friend is working for Jenova now, your life is in danger."

"What I want to know," said Cid, "Is how in the world did Jenova come back? The Lifestream wouldn't have revived her the way it did Aeris and Sephiroth. Where did she come from?"

"With our luck," muttered Yuffie, "She's what came out of that Whole Eaters head."

Everyone stared at Yuffie.

"Out of the mouth of babes," said Cid.

"Who are you calling a baby?" snapped Yuffie. "I'm not a baby and I don't act like one!"

"Shut up Yuffie," growled Barret. "That's not what he meant."

"Oh." Yuffie's face brightened. "In that case . . . Thank you!"

"Wait a minute," said Yuffie. "How could something the size of Jenova come out of a Whole Eaters head. That doesn't make sense!"

The Nibelheim Fire Department was rushing to the scene of the fires. AVALANCHE was oblivious to the commotion around them.

"It does, in a way," said Red XIII thoughtfully. "That Whole Eater ate several samples of Jenova cells, right?"

"So?" asked Yuffie.

"The only reason I can think of for the condition of the Whole Eaters head, is the Jenova cells must have concentrated there," explained Red. "Then somehow, they broke through the monsters' skull."

"Go on," said Tifa.

"Whole Eaters are territorial creatures," explained Red XIII. "They don't travel too far from where they're born. What if the only reason it went outside the city was so that it could carry the Jenova cells to another place where they could hitch a ride further away?"

"You were doing fine until that last part," said Cid. "There weren't any animal tracks around the corpse."

"We didn't look for any," reminded Vincent. "We were too busy running."

"There weren't any other animals around," scoffed Cid.

"Only the Tornadus we saw flying above the city," said Tifa. "They're hunters, but they're carrion eaters too."

Everyone was silent.

"You think a Tornadu ate Jenova cells that broke out of the Whole Eaters head?" asked Yuffie.

"Who said Jenova cells broke out of the monsters' head?" asked Barret. "All we know is something came out. That's all."

"But remember the Reunion," said Tifa. "Hojo said all of Jenova's parts would eventually come back together!"

"Sephiroth regenerated and recovered from his wounds the first time he fought with Cloud," said Red XIII. "Why couldn't Jenova, under the right circumstances, regenerate from her own cells?"

"Damn!" Cid threw down his unlit cigarette and reached for another. "This is a goddamned Reunion. That's what this is. Cloud and Sephiroth have Jenova cells. She called them back to her."

"No!" Tears spilled down Tifa's cheeks. "Cloud wouldn't do that."

"He did it before," said Red. "He went to Sephiroth with the Black Materia."

"Who's to say he didn't go to Jenova on his own this time?" added Yuffie.

Before she could stop herself, Tifa slapped Yuffie.

Yuffie grabbed her cheek and looked at Tifa in shock. Tears formed in her eyes.

"Why did you do that?" she asked with a quavering voice.

Tifa was filled with sudden remorse. "I'm sorry Yuffie. I didn't mean to do that! I'm so sorry!"

She turned and ran back toward Cloud's house. They heard her sobbing as she ran away.

"I'll go after her." Still holding her cheek, Yuffie followed Tifa.

"What are we going to do now?" asked Vincent.

"Damned if I know," answered Cid. "I'll be damned if I know."