Mirror Image
by T'Shael
Chapter 14
Aeris put Goldie back in the shed and went into the house. Tifa was just setting the table. "Oh I'm sorry Tifa," said Aeris. "I didn't think. I should have been here helping you."
"Don't worry about it," said Tifa. "Excuse my saying so, but you look as if you've been in a windstorm."
Aeris laughed. "I was out riding Goldie with Sephiroth."
"You two seem to get on quite well," said Tifa. "I have to admit, I still don't trust him myself, but he does seem like a different person when you are around."
"He's really nice when you get to know him," said Aeris.
Tifa put the last of the silverware on the table. "I don't know that I'll ever get to know him that well, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of a doubt though."
"Why?" asked Aeris.
"If you went through all this trouble to bring him here," said Tifa. "There must be something to it."
"Something to what?" asked Yuffie popping from around a corner.
"Little big ears," said Tifa nodding toward Yuffie.
"What?" asked Yuffie. "What do you mean?"
Aeris and Tifa smiled at each other. It's strange how well we get along when Cloud is not in the picture, thought Aeris. We can act just like we are the best of friends. Are we friends at all? How can we be friends when we both feel something for the same man?
After dinner that night, Aeris stood in her dark room looking out the window. She watched the stars twinkle while she tried to sort out her thoughts. She didn't notice the figure watching her from the shadow of the trees. If he had moved just a little, she might have seen the glint of silver hair.
The next morning, Aeris woke up at nine o'clock. I didn't realize I was that tired, she thought. She showered and dressed in a black pair of leggings with a long black and white print top that stopped mid-hip. When she came out of her room, she was surprised to find Tifa and Yuffie were still sleeping. Aeris decided to make breakfast for them. When Tifa came downstairs an hour later, she was surprised. "It all looks so good!" she cried.
"I'm not as good a cook as my mother, but I'm not too bad," said Aeris. A thought occurred to her. "Oh no!"
"What is it?" asked Tifa.
"Oh my goodness! I've been here all this time and I haven't gone to see my mother!" Aeris cried. "What a daughter I am! What was I thinking? I can't believe I've been this callous!"
"Maybe you had someone else on your mind?" Yuffie yawned.
Aeris ignored Yuffie and turned to Tifa. "Where does my mother live now?"
"Rocket Town," answered Tifa. "But why don't you ask Cid to take you?"
Aeris pulled off her apron. "I want to spend some time alone with her. I don't want to bother Cid. I'm going to see her right now." She ran upstairs and returned with her Princess Guard.
"Wait Aeris!" called Tifa as Aeris started toward the door. "Aren't you going to eat breakfast?"
Aeris stopped at the door. "I'll eat with Mom."
"Don't go alone," said Tifa. "At least take Sephiroth!"
"I'll be all right," grinned Aeris. "Sephiroth taught me a lot about fighting. Goldie can outrun anything. I'll be back by dinner. Tell Sephiroth I'll make up my missed lessons tomorrow!" She waved and was gone.
Tifa started to go after her, then shrugged and turned back to the breakfast table. She took a deep breath. Her stomach rumbled. It was breakfast time and she was hungry. Aeris was a big girl. She knew what she was doing.
Aeris took Goldie out of the stable and climbed on his back, urging him into a trot. She decided against riding past Cloud's house or the Nibelheim Inn. She couldn't take the chance that one of her friends would see her and would want to come with her. She wanted to spend some time alone with Elmyra. Maybe her mother could help her sort her feelings out.
It wasn't long before she outside Nibelheim and on her way to Rocket Town. The air was crisp and cool. Goldie took the miles easily. Aeris decided to skirt the mountains. She didn't have Sephiroth's flair for the rocky cliffs and valleys. That meant passing through a stretch of woods. She wasn't afraid. Like Sephiroth said, Goldie could outrun anything. She had only gone a little ways into the woods when Goldie suddenly reared up. Caught off guard, Aeris tumbled from his back.
She rolled over several times and came up spitting dirt and grass out of her mouth. She stared daggers at the chocobo. "What did you do that for?"
Goldie was prancing from foot to foot. His eyes were wide with terror. He looked as if he didn't know if he wanted to stay with Aeris or run. He kept looking at the surrounding greenery as if he expected something to pounce on him. If Goldie was afraid, something was definitely wrong. Aeris rose slowly to her feet. Her Princess Guard was still strapped to Goldie. She edged toward him slowly. "Steady boy. Calm down. It's me, Aeris. Here Goldie."
The chocobo rolled its frightened eyes at her. He seemed just about to come to her when something rustled nearby. With a loud wark Goldie ran a few steps in the opposite direction.
"Goldie wait!" Aeris ran after him.
That only made it worse. The chocobo took to his heels again. Aeris stopped and he stopped too. She had to get him calmed quickly. Aeris looked around. She saw nothing but trees and bushes. She didn't know what was moving in the bushes and she didn't want to find out without her Princess Guard. Mentally she kicked herself for not bringing her gold armlet or poison ring. She began to talk to the chocobo again trying to reach through his fear. Little by little Goldie began to calm down. Little by little, Aeris began to edge toward him. Her hand was almost touching the reins when there was a sudden commotion behind her. Goldie gave a loud squawk and charged off full speed.
"Goldie, No!" Aeris cried after him. A twig snapped. She whirled toward the source of the noise. Nothing, but something didn't feel right. Fearfully, she began to back up. Her eyes searched about for a weapon or a hiding place. She could hear Goldie's frightened warks dying away in the distance. She swallowed the lump in her throat. She'd made a big mistake coming out here alone. Tifa was right. She should have brought Sephiroth. Why not Cloud? asked a voice in her head. She had to fight to hold in a hysterical giggle. She didn't have time for thoughts like that. She felt a sudden chill and knew something was watching her. Any second it would jump out of the brush and rip her to pieces. Aeris wondered if there would be anything left of her for anyone to find. What a morbid thought! She scolded herself. Think of something quick! She heard another sound from a different place and looked in that direction. Were there two somethings out or was her stalker just fast? She was shaking in terror.
Then to Aeris' relief, she saw a familiar shape in black moving through the trees. Long silver hair trailed down his back. He was wearing his battle uniform, and walking away from her.
"Sephiroth?"
He didn't respond. She lost sight of him.
What was he doing here? Why did he scare Goldie? Aeris hurried after him. "Sephiroth?" She couldn't find him. She rushed around in the general direction he had gone, but there was no one there.
"Sephiroth, where are you?" Then she saw him. He was further away. Aeris ran after him. Was he angry with her? "Sephiroth!"
He disappeared again. Aeris ran through a clump of grass unaware that a stone the size of a man's head was half buried on the other side. Her foot struck the stone and she stumbled. Windmilling, she fell face first on the ground. It knocked the air out of her. She sat up, hand pressed against her chest until she could breathe again. Tears burned her eyes but she did not cry. What kind of game was Sephiroth playing with her? How did he get out here?
Aeris spotted him again, moving through the shrubbery. Painfully she climbed to her feet and went after him. "Sephiroth, don't leave me!" she called. "Please wait for me!"
To her surprise, he stopped this time. He waited, his back to her, in a clearing. Gratefully, Aeris hurried toward him almost stumbling in exhaustion. "Sephiroth?" He didn't turn around.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
No response. Aeris touched his shoulder. He turned around slowly. Aeris looked up into his face and froze. Instead of glowing green eyes, she saw the most frightening eyes she'd ever seen. They were blacker than black but tinged with a glowing silvery sheen. There was madness in those eyes.
Aeris felt her blood turn to ice. "You're not Sephiroth," she whispered.
He smiled at her and for some reason his smile made her think of cold dead things, rotting and unburied. He leaned closer. She stared into his eyes hypnotized into immobility. His hands clamped around her arms pinning them to her sides. Aeris found her voice at last. She screamed.
She heard laughing and turned her head to see Hojo stepping from behind a tree. Aeris screamed again.
"That won't do you any good," smirked Hojo. "There is no one here to hear you."
Aeris tried to struggle but it was useless against the strength of the man who held her.
"Strong, isn't he?" Hojo laughed, then waved a hand in her direction. "Meet Zephiroth, my son."
"What do you mean your son?" Zephiroth was holding her much too tight. Her arms ached. "I thought Sephiroth was your son."
"He is," replied Hojo, "This is his brother. Zephiroth. You might as well get used to him Cetra. You will soon bear his child."
"No!" cried Aeris.
"Who said you had a choice?" Hojo leered at her.
"No-o-o-o-o-o-o!" screamed Aeris.
"Yes-s-s-s-s-s!" laughed Hojo. "You will be the mother of the children of both my sons. Think of it. Your children and theirs will control this pathetic little planet!"
"I'd rather die Hojo!" cried Aeris. "I'd rather die than let him touch me!"
Hojo rubbed in chin. "Strange that you don't want Zephiroth to touch you but you didn't say the same about Sephiroth. My experiment may prove more fascinating than I thought!"
"You monster! You horrible monster!" Aeris tried to struggle and Zephiroth raised her off her feet. Aeris remembered something Sephiroth told her and tried to kick Zephiroth where it hurt. She missed. He snarled and threw her to the ground. Aeris landed hard. Zephiroth reached down and jerked her head by up the hair.
"Sephiroth help me! Sephiroth!" she screamed.
Zephiroth's slap knocked her unconscious. He reached for his sword.
"Stop!" shouted Hojo. Zephiroth froze. "You've got the right idea but the wrong instrument. Tie her hands and feet and put her across your chocobo. We've got somewhere to go."
Zephiroth pulled tore two strips of cloth from the edge of Aeris' blouse. He tied her hands and feet. Hojo led the gold chocobos out of hiding. He climbed up on his. Zephiroth jumped aboard his chocobo with Aeris in his arms. He laid her across the animals back in front of him. Her hair tumbled down the chocobo's side, catching the sunlight. Zephiroth ran his fingers through it. "Pretty girl" he murmured.
"All in good time, my son. All in good time." Hojo led the way. Zephiroth followed.
Sephiroth and Vincent were hurrying toward Tifa's house when Cloud, Red XIII, Cid and Barret came out of the Nibelheim Cafe. Sephiroth looked grim. Vincent looked worried. Vincent put out a hand to stop Sephiroth as they came abreast of the three.
"What's up?" asked Barret.
"We don't have time for this," said Sephiroth impatiently.
"Sephiroth is worried about Aeris," said Vincent.
"What about Aeris?" asked Cloud.
"Isn't she at Tifa's?" asked Cid.
"Aeris is in danger," said Sephiroth tightly. He tried to move away, but Cloud blocked his path.
"What do you mean Aeris is in danger?" Cloud's eyes narrowed.
"All I know if I feel Aeris is in danger!" snapped Sephiroth. "Get out of my way."
He pushed past Cloud. Cid, Barret and Red XIII moved into his path.
"Like the man said," Vincent raised his voice, "We don't have time for this. Let's just go and see if Aeris is all right."
Red, Cid, Barret and Cloud backed off reluctantly. Sephiroth hurried away with the others trailing behind. Sephiroth went up to the door and knocked. Yuffie answered the door.
"Oh, it's you." She started to say something else, but Sephiroth pushed her aside and entered the house. He heard the indignant voices of Cid, Cloud, and Barret.
Tifa walked into the living room and looked at him in surprise.
"Tifa," asked Sephiroth, "Where is Aeris?"
"You don't just bust into someone's home!" Barret's voice was a low growl.
"She isn't here," said Tifa. "She went out this morning."
"Alone?" asked Sephiroth.
"Yes. She said she'd be back by this evening." Tifa looked at the group curiously. "She's only gone to Rocket Town to see Elmyra."
"When did she leave?" asked Vincent.
"About two hours ago, more or less." Tifa looked more confused then ever. " Why are you here? What's going on?"
"Aeris is in danger." Sephiroth looked distressed. "Did she take the chocobo?"
"She sure did." Yuffie walked into the center of the group. "She seemed well enough to me. What makes you think she's in danger?"
"It's just a feeling I have." Sephiroth started for the door.
"What can a killer feel for anyone?" Barret mumbled.
Sephiroth felt a wave of anger. Suddenly he didn't care if they knew how he felt or not. "I care about Aeris! She's in danger!"
Cloud felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"I knew it! You can't stand her out of your sight, huh?" Yuffie grinned wickedly.
Sephiroth started to say something then suddenly collapsed on the floor. He rolled into a fetal position clutching his head. The others stood around him dumbfounded as he began to moan. "Aeris!"
"What in the hell is going on?" asked Cid. "Is this guy on something?"
"Aeris, NO!" screamed Sephiroth. "Don't go near him! Run!"
Tifa was frightened. "What's he saying?"
Sephiroth screamed and screamed again. No one knew what to do. Sephiroth thrashed and screamed. He began to shiver violently. "Don't you touch her! Aeris!"
Something about the way he called Aeris' name made chills go down their spines. Sephiroth screamed again and suddenly jerked himself into a sitting position. His eyes were blazing.
Barret raised his gun arm. "Watch it! He's gone crazy again!"
Everyone backed away from Sephiroth warily. He paid them no mind. His eyes seemed to glaze over as he stood up. He reeled toward the door like a drunken man. He staggered outside and stumbled to his knees in the yard. "Aeris!" His voice was a croak.
He rose and staggered to the road, where he stood staring into the distance. The others slowly followed him. Cloud had his hand on his sword. Barret was concentrating on a head shot. Red XIII stood ready to use his Blood Fang. Cid cursed himself for not bringing his Venus Gospel. Yuffie wondered if she had time to get her Conformer from upstairs. Tifa was ready to use her Beat Rush. Sephiroth's trembling ceased. He seemed to rouse himself from a trance. His eyes burned. Raising one hand, he pointed down the road. The group turned to look. Every jaw dropped. Goldie was running toward them without a rider.
He might have run past them into the backyard if Sephiroth had not jumped forward and grabbed the reins. The animal squawked and began fighting with all its might to get away. Everyone ran to get out of the way. When Goldie found he couldn't get away from Sephiroth, he stopped fighting and stood snorting with his head down. He allowed Sephiroth to stroke his trembling sides.
"It's scared out of its goddamn wits!" observed Cid. "You've seen the company they keep. What in the hell could scare a chocobo that bad?"
"Something worse than the company they keep," replied Red XIII.
"Look!" Yuffie voice broke. "That's Aeris' weapon!"
"Goldie is half out of his mind with fear, Aeris is missing and her weapon is here." Tifa's voice was shaky. "This doesn't look good."
"Aeris wouldn't leave her weapon on Goldie if she was able to get to it." Barret looked worried. "That probably means she didn't get off that damned thing on her own. She couldn't get to her weapon."
Sephiroth set his jaw. "I am going to find her."
"But you don't know where to look!" Tifa waved her hand in the direction the chocobo came from. "We know she was going to Rocket Town, but we don't know if she went through the mountains or around them. She could be badly injured. Where do we look first?"
"I know one thing I can do." Cid pulled his PHS out of his pocket and called Shera.
"Shera? Cid. Hey did you see Aeris come through on her way to see Elymra?" He listened to the reply. "What? Damn!"
"I don't like the sound of that," said Red XIII.
"What?" Cid looked at his friends and shook his head. He threw down his cigarette and reached for another. "Thanks Shera. Call me if she shows up. Dammit! What? I don't know. I'll let you know if we find her. Yeah. Got to go."
"I take it Aeris didn't make it to Rocket Town," said Vincent.
"Elymra is in bed with a cold," said Cid. "Shera was visiting her and just got home. She can see Elymra's house from ours. Aeris never made it there."
"What did you mean, when you said 'don't touch her'?" Cloud looked at Sephiroth.
Sephiroth gave Cloud a blank look. "When did I say that?"
"What the hell do you mean, when did you say that?" Cid exploded. "You just fucking said it when you were rolling around on the ground!"
"I don't know what you are talking about," said Sephiroth. "I only know I have to find Aeris soon or it will be too late."
"Too late for what?" There was an edge to Cloud's voice.
"I don't know." Sephiroth's Mako green eyes were glowing more than ever. "I heard her screaming."
"Screaming?" That didn't sound good to Yuffie. "Do you think a monster got her?"
Everyone frowned at Yuffie except Sephiroth. He shook his head. "Aeris has fought monsters before. I think she was screaming for some other reason. It seemed as if she was absolutely terrified. She was calling for me to help her."
Tifa moved closer to Sephiroth. "Could you tell where she was?"
He shook his head again. "No."
"What in the hell are we supposed to do?" Barret could barely contain his frustration.
"Damn!" Cid threw down his cigarette and reached for another.
"One of us knows where Aeris is," said Vincent quietly. Everyone turned to stare at him. Vincent pointed to the gold chocobo. "He knows where he took her."
"Great. Just fucking great." Cid snorted in disgust. "I suppose he's going to tell us?"
Vincent ignored him. "Listen Sephiroth. When you were trying to hurt the planet, you took control of Clouds mind more than once."
Sephiroth looked into Cloud's hostile eyes. "He has Jenova cells. I controlled him through those."
"Have you ever used your mind control on anyone other than Jenova recipients?" asked Vincent.
"I never tried to," answered Sephiroth. "Why?"
"Do you think your mind control would work on an animal?" Vincent was watching him intently. "Do you think you could make the chocobo retrace his steps?"
Sephiroth gave Vincent a strange look. "You want me to try to use mind control on a chocobo?"
"It's worth a try," chimed in Yuffie.
"What have you got to lose?" said Tifa. "If it doesn't work, we're no worse off than we were before."
"Which is absolutely nowhere," grumbled Barret.
Sephiroth looked at the chocobo doubtfully. It was munching on some greens that grew beside the road.
"If you really care about Aeris, you'll try." Cloud said. "As much as I hate to think about it, you're our only chance of finding her."
Both men stared at each other.
"Knock off the damned ogling contest and let's find Aeris," growled Cid.
Cloud broke eye contact first. He didn't want to, but the longer they waited here, the worse it might be for Aeris. When he looked back, Sephiroth was holding the chocobo's head between his hands and speaking to it in a low voice. Goldie warked softly. Sephiroth began to stroke the chocobo gently. He found the golden brown eyes with his glowing Mako eyes. The chocobo gave a short wark of surprise but did not move away. Its beak dropped open and it stared back at Sephiroth transfixed.
"Damn if he's not doing it," said Cid in awe.
Cloud frowned. The only reason they had beaten Sephiroth the first time is because Sephiroth underestimated their ability to stop him. He always suspected Hojo's son might have power he hadn't even used yet. If Sephiroth went insane again, could they stop him this time? That thought bothered him almost as much as the realization that Sephiroth really was worried about Aeris. Watching Sephiroth with the chocobo reminded him of the times, Sephiroth controlled him. How easy would it be for Sephiroth to make Aeris want to be with him? Cloud fought not to clench his fists as the chocobo fell under Sephiroth's control.
After what seemed like an eternity, Sephiroth released the chocobo and began to stoke the animal again. Except for a faint glassy look in the large bird's eyes, it seemed just fine.
"Well," asked Barret eagerly. "If we turn it loose, will it take us to where it left Aeris?"
"No." Sephiroth rubbed Goldie's throat.
"Then what the hell have you been doing all this time?" sputtered Cid. "God dammit!"
"We went through all this, and it can't take us back to Aeris?" Yuffie was indignant.
"If I ride him and keep him on course with mind control, I can force him to go back to where he left Aeris. He is too frightened of that location to go back willingly," said Sephiroth.
"Good," said Yuffie, "We'll get some more chocobos and . . . "
"I suggest you don't ride with me. Especially with other chocobos," cut in Sephiroth. "My hold on his mind will be fragile at best. He is an animal and his concentration is limited."
"We'll follow in the Highwind," said Cid. "Let's get this show on the road. Everybody grab some gear and meet me at the Highwind within ten minutes."
"I will get my things and meet you on the edge of town," said Sephiroth.
"You'd better not ride off without us," warned Cloud.
"I'll be waiting." Sephiroth kept his voice neutral but his eyes said he wasn't in the mood for Cloud's threats.
Tifa noticed. She took Cloud's arm and pulled him away. "C'mon everybody, let's get started."
"Why did you do that?" Cloud hadn't intended to break eye contact first this time. The last thing he wanted was for Sephiroth to feel like he had the upper hand.
"Leave him alone Cloud," said Tifa. "He's very worried about Aeris and he doesn't need you antagonizing him."
"Antagonizing him?" Cloud was incredulous. "Whose side are you on anyway?"
Tifa pushed him into the house. "It's not a matter of taking sides Cloud. He's just as worried about Aeris as we are."
"He doesn't care about anything or anybody," said Cloud hotly. "Don't try to make him sound human. He was a monster then and he's a monster now."
"Has it ever occurred to you that Sephiroth might be in love with Aeris?" asked Tifa.
A rush of emotions played over Clouds face before he pulled it back into a neutral expression. "That's impossible."
"Is it?" asked Tifa. "They spend an awful lot of time together Cloud."
"She's just being nice to him because no one else will have anything to do with him," said Cloud. "Aeris is that kind of person."
"Did it ever occur to you that Aeris might be in love with Sephiroth?"
"That's a lie!" Cloud felt cold inside.
"Cloud," Tifa took his face in her hands. "I love you. I wouldn't lie to you about a thing like that. I know Aeris loves you. I've seen the way she looks at you, but I've seen the way she looks at Sephiroth and I've seen the way he looks at her too. Haven't you ever watched them together?"
Cloud thought about the kiss at the window and clenched his fists. "I have to get ready," he told her. "I'll meet you at the Highwind."
He walked out the door. Tifa felt a lump in her throat as she headed for the stairs. Yuffie burst in. "Last one to the Highwind is a rotten chocobo egg!" She raced up the stairs past Tifa. Tifa started to scold her for that, but then thought better of it and raced up the stairs after Yuffie.