'I don't trust you' was the last thing she said directly to him. Funny how those words were now echoing inside her head as she saw his body slump down to the ground... his weapon clank around when it hit the floor... a pool of red form around his body, mixing with the black. And this was his payment for all those times he protected Inno... all those times he tried to guide the group. Tifa Lockheart began to feel guilty. She could hear the silence in the air as everything happened. Aeris climbing up the rail shocked at the scene before her. Inno poking her head out of the water, swimming toward the platform. Jenova dropping down and growing. Cloud passing out the instant that Jenova hit the ground. The tentacle turning it's attention to Aeris, who was now trying desperately to revive Gabriel. The silence was shattered with a loud warcry and a charge towards the tentacle. Yuffie Kisangiri was seeing red and wanted revenge. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINAL FANTASY : FATED started by: Samantha Rodgers Chapter 21: Reversal of Fortune by Rift (Oscar R. Labrador) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- All her hopes, all her dreams. Gone with a simple stab of Masamune. Abel Woodshaft was dead, and this time it was permanent. [It's not fair.], Yuffie though to herself. With him, she could have returned to Wutai and raised armies. She could have restored the pride of her homeland. But now he's gone. Abel is gone. Her hero is gone. Yuffie tore into the Jenova creation with lightning speed. Jenova, who had been focused on killing Aeris, never saw it coming. It howled in pain as it took the full force of the attack. Delivering her last strike, Yuffie vaulted herself backwards. Surrounded by a yellow aura, she struck the floor with her fist sending a shockwave towards Jenova creature that exploded the ground under it. For a moment, all that could be seen was smoke. "Did I do it? Is it over?" the ninja girl asked herself. Her question was soon answered as a tentacle wrapped itself around her neck and lifted her up. She tried desperately to cut herself free, but her strength was fading due to the lack of oxygen. Barret, Jessie, Biggs and Reeve opened fire with their weapons as Tifa and Nanaki tried to get close enough to attack. Jenova, however, counterattacked before she could reach her. She projected lightning towards the attacking party forcing them to scatter and cease their attack. She then tightened her grip on the one she had trapped in an attempt to snap her neck. It was at that moment that Cid Highwind came down on the tentacle, freeing Yuffie in the nick of time. "I don't know what the *$%$ is going on, but it's @$#$ing who the good guys are." he remarked pulling out some dynamite, "C'mon you @%$#ing freak of nature, I'm ready for ya!" Jenova reared it's tentacles back preparing for another attack. The attack would never come. At that very instant, a wave of energy tore into the Jenova creation splitting it in half before it disintegrated into nothing. Cid and the rest of the combatants turned to see where it came from. All they saw Inno standing on one of the platforms, looking like she just swung her sword. Her sword still steaming from the attack and her face wore a mask of hatred. "That was for Gabriel, you bitch." Her face quickly changed from hatred to horror at she turned her attention to the platform where Gabriel and Aeris were. Inno rushed onto the platform, soon followed by Yuffie and then the rest of the group. However, when the group got there, they kept their distance either out of guilt or respect. Yuffie kneeled to his left, crying in silence. Inno, to his right, held his lifeless hand and sobbed his name incoherently. Aeris, also crying, held his head on her lap. Tifa took in the whole sight, her words echoing in her head anew. She summoned up all of her courage to talk. "Aeris?" "I was too late, Tifa. He's gone. Gabriel's gone." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I don't know about this. I feel uncomfortable outside of my lab." "Relax, Leonardo. I assure you that the Highwind is quite safe and the trip will be well worth it." Rufus assured the scientist. Sending an archeological team seemed like a waste of time when his father gave the order. However, it had paid off. According to the reports sent in, they had found some kind of giant that seemed artificially made encased in ice. A weapon of sorts. One that he must be able to control. "It is very important that you examine the find." "Well, since there's nobody else..." "Good, now please join the Turks in the Highwind. I'll be there shortly" Making sure Leonardo was out of hearing distance, he pulled out his cell phone. "Yes, it's me. Getting ready to address the public? Good. Make sure the right people get blamed for the little accident that happened to Wutai." he said with a smirk before hanging up. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cloud, beginning to awaken from his slumber, felt a wave of disorientation overtake him. He stood up and looked over his surroundings. The first thing he noticed is that he was now as some house by a lake. The other thing he noticed is the air of depression among his party. Tifa, who had a look of shock on her face, was sitting next to him and hugging her legs. Barret was leaning back next to the door and looked deep in thought. Next to him were Biggs and Jessie, trying to take some comfort in each others arms. Reeve was a bit father back away from the group, trying to lose himself in device he was fiddling with. Yuffie was nowhere to be seen. Nanaki was looking at his reflection in the water as if it would talk to him. But where was Aeris and Inno? Was one of them...? His mind was eased as Aeris came out, her eyes red from crying. He opened his to ask what happened and was shocked when he saw Inno come out, eyes also red from crying, carrying Gabriel's dead body. As she hit the water, he started to remember what happened. *He* tried to kill Aeris. Gabriel stopped him. Sephiroth came down... and Gabriel was the one who paid the price. He watch as she laid him down on the water and kissed his forehead. His body then sank into the water and everyone watched as he started to fade from sight. His silhouette became smaller and smaller until he was just a mere dot in the water. And then, he was gone. Cloud's eyes were downcast when Inno started to come out. He wanted to comfort her. To tell her that he was sorry. He looked up and saw Inno in front of him catching his eyes with hers. "Inno... I... I'm..." The sentence was interrupted as Inno slapped Cloud in the face. "Don't you dare apologize, you hypocrite!! YOU were the one who didn't trust him!! YOU were the one who said he couldn't be trusted and look what happened!! You never cared for him, so don't pretend you do now!!" Inno picked up her sword and shield (the only things of Gabriel she had left), and turned back to glare at Cloud. "Gabriel wasn't the traitor in this group. You were!!!" And with that said, she turned and left with Aeris and Nanaki chasing after her. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Inno, stop! Where are you going?" Inno turned to face the voice. "I'm going to pay Sephiroth back. And I know exactly where he's going." "Inno this unwise." Nanaki stated, "You should wait for the others..." "NO!!! I'M NOT WAITING FOR HIM OR HIS FRIENDS!!!" "...then at least let us come with you.", Aeris replied in a sad tone, "I...cared... for him too." "I will go also." Nanaki added. [The least I can do for him now is to protect them like he did.] he added to himself. "I'm going too and you can't stop me." a voice said out of nowhere. They all turned to the source and saw Yuffie come out holding Gabriel's chain sickle in her free hand. "Abel was important to me too and I want to make sure that Sephiroth pays for his crimes." Inno looked them over and started to walk away. "Okay. Just don't fall behind." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Sephiroth was heading over to where his old body was resting, he clutched his head in pain. Not out of regret of his actions, but of feeling Jenova rage. "You missed!! You fool, this endangers our plans entirely!!" Jenova-half raged on. "Don't worry, mother. I'm going to get my old body back. I won't fail with it this time." "No. As soon you get to your destination, wait for her there. She will come to you. As we speak, I'm sending parts of body to interfere with their progress. I also sense the Other's host is with her. Kill them both when they get to you. We must succeed!" "I understand, mother. I will do as you say." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hojo looked at the radar screen seeing the small dot move northward knowing full well what it was. The Highwind. "So Rufus, finally going to come out of your castle? heh, heh, heh, heh." Hojo quickly changed his course to match that of the Highwind. If he didn't miss his guess, things were coming full circle. And he wasn't going to miss out on any of it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- He woke up from his slumber feeling weak and disoriented. Memories started to surface forth from his subconciousness. He was protecting somebody, there was a struggle, then a sword came down. [What happened? Where am I?] He started looking around, in hopes of recognizing his surroundings. What he saw shocked him. He was on a small island that was literally surrounded by water. There was also a house that had a forge on the side. It almost looked like... [No. It can't be...] He quickly ran into the house looking at the interior. [It's the same. Everything is the same like when we left for...] And then he saw her. Her long, silver hair that was braided into a ponytail. Her red eyes. It was her, and this was home. "Mom?" "Yes, it is me. And I suppose you have questions." "Where? How?" "In the Lifestream, son. Your mind is mearly interpreting it this way to make it easier for you to understand. And I think you know how. After all, you've been here before." "But I gave up my being to join with...? Hey! Wait a sec... If I'm here then where heck is he?" "He has other things to take care of. Right now, you have to listen. What I have to tell you is important and it will be useful to you once you get back." "Go back? You mean like a spirit?" "No. The Planet has decided that it's not your time. You will be going back and you will have some company when your father gets back." "Company? Who?" "All in due time, my son. Now please let me finish, I have much to say." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aeris felt the shrill cold of the blizzard chill her body all over. Adding that to the fact that they hadn't stopped to rest, she felt her body begin to tire. Nanaki quickly noticed this and dropped back to check on her. "Are you all right?" "I'm a little tired and cold, but I'm okay." "You did junction your fire materia with the elemental materia to protect you from the cold?" "Yes I wouldn't be standing if I wasn't." "Good..." Nanaki said looking into the distance. "What is it? You seemed worried about something." "I never saw Inno junction her materia." "Oh my! Then how is she..." "Her powers, it's the only thing that could allow her to tolerate this weather. I think she hasn't stopped using them since... since she destroyed the Jenova creature." [You were going to say 'since Gabriel's death'] though to herself. "Wait. If she's using her powers, then why hasn't she passed out?" "That's what I'm afraid of. Either she's gotten better at using her powers or..." "Or?" she asked, not really wanting to know the answer. "She might be giving in to her other side." The words chilled her whole body, more so than the winds ever could. She wanted to deny it, but given the circumstances it was completely possible. "What do we do?" "We can't do anything. If we say anything, she'll get defensive and we'll lose her trust. We don't need that right now. All we can really do is be cautious and pray." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So Leonardo, what can you tell me about it?" The scientist looked over the artificial giant with a analytical eye. "It's far beyond anything I could create. A true work of art." "So it was definitely created by the Cetra." "It's the most logical conclusion. Unless there was some other race back then that we didn't know of. Salvaging him is going to be a problem since we can't get heavy machinery in here, but it's not impossible." "That's not important, right now. The important part is can you control him?" "It will take me some time, but I think I can. Mr. Shinra, this a wonderful discovery. Just think of the good things we can do with this. Landscaping. Construction. We could build cities in days." "Or destroy them in minutes. heh, heh, heh." said Hojo coming out of the shadows. Immediately, the Turks surrounded him. "You've got a lot of nerve, old man." Elena stated. "For a genius, you're pretty stupid doc." said Reno tapping his stick on the palm of his hand. "I agree. What did you hope to gain from this, dear doctor." "Oh you could say I have an intuition about this place." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cloud bent down to examine the remains what seemed to be a Jenova creation. "Well they seemed to come have thru here." Cloud took a looked back at group who seemed to still be depressed. Truth be told, he was still suffering from the guilt alone. 'Traitor' she called him. More like 'Puppet', if you asked him. [How? How is Sephiroth able to control me?] Suddenly, as he took a step forward, he found that his environment had changed around them. They were in Nibelheim now. And not they current one, it was the Nibelheim he remember from that day. Nibelheim in flames. "Sephiroth. He's doing this." Cloud remarked. "I can't take all the credit. Mother is helping." "Why yo doin' this?" Barret demanded. "Why to help my other brother to understand. You do want to know why, don't you?" He began to walk towards the man with the camera. As he reached him, he bent down to reach the picture he had taken. "Remember this? The picture you think he took of all three of us? Come and look, it will answer all your questions." Tifa, who had been in shock as this unfolded, suddenly noticed the ShinRa soldier at her feet who seemed to be unconscious. Out of curiosity, she bent down to confirm it and saw under his helmet. [Dear Planet, this explains everything.] She stood up to tell Cloud, only to see him looking at the picture. [Oh no.] "This is a lie. Your just changing this to confuse me. I'm Cloud Srife, I was a member of SOLDIER...but, how come I can't remember anything before Nibelheim?" Cloud started clutching his head in pain. He couldn't remember anything other than that moment. Almost all the memories of Nibelheim he had were stories that he heard Tifa tell about them. Then the only way he could know anything about that moment would be if he was also a.... "NOOOOOOOO!!!!!" Reality shifted back into place, leaving them back where they were. Tifa began to approach Cloud, in an attempt to calm him. "Cloud...?" "No! Stay back!" "Cloud listen..." "I...I'm sorry, Tifa. I'm not Cloud. I want to be, but..." Cloud stammered out with tears in his face. He looked back to see the cliff behind him. "Don't worry, Tifa. I won't let him use me against you anymore" he said turning towards the cliff. "No, Cloud! Wait!" but it was too late. Cloud has already jumped. There was no time to grieve however, as the ground began to shake under them. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "What's going on?" Elena said trying to stay on her feet. "Earthquake?" Reno exclamated. "No. It's the giant. It's moving." said Leonardo as Hojo laughed at the whole situation. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Abel? Abel, you haven't said a word." "I don't know what to say. I mean I'm grateful that you told me why Holy is deadly to the Other, but the other stuff you told me... it's a lot to take in even if I am dead..." "I know that I've put a lot on your mind, but it's important that you know your heritage." Suddenly, Diana looked out into the distance. "It's finally happened." "What?" "She's taken the weapons. We knew she would. Your father should be getting here right about." As if on cue, a tall, muscular man steps into the house with another slung on his shoulder. He brushed his black hair out of his eyes and said "It's time. Did you give it to him?" "Give me what?" Diana stood up and went to the closet. After a little searching, she pulled out a strange looking bow. It was made of metal and seemed to look like two curved short swords joined together at the hilt. It seemed bulky, but when she handed it to him, it was incredibly light. "A bow?" Abel asked. "A puzzle actually." said Orin, "It's a bow, a chain sickle, a boomerang, a giant claw and a pair of swords in one. It was supposed to go to a Wutai general. I guess it will now." "Wow. Thanks." looking over the weapon. He remembered how good he used to be with puzzles. Took him next to nothing solve them. "Now then, it's almost time for both of you to leave." "Both?" he said, finally taking notice of the man his father was carrying. He moved to see his face and recognized him immediately. "Cloud?" "Free of Jenova's influence thanks to the Lifestream. Take him." he said as he handed over Cloud to his son. "Now there's only one thing left to give you." He then produced a summon materia out of nowhere. "This is all that is left of me son. Never forget what you have learned here, son." And with that said, he faded from sight leaving only the materia. The materia the floated toward the weapon and took its place in one of its slots. Abel turned towards his mother to see that she had become like ghost. Within her was another summon materia. "I love you, my son. Be happy, help your friends and remember us always" Diana finally faded from sight, leaving the materia to take it's place next to the other. And then Abel Woodshaft was engulfed in light... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rufus Shinra wasn't a happy man. One of the greatest weapons he had ever seen had just slipped out of his fingers. Not only that, but he almost died in the process. This wasn't good. He stepped thru the newly formed entrance, his ranks following behind him. "Boss, we've got company." He turned to see who had also come into the cavern. It was the fortune teller and the Cetra accompanied by the other subject and some girl. Things were actually looking up. He could recover three test subjects at once. "Turks, forget about the good doctor right now. Capture the test subjects. Alive. Leonardo, my shotgun." Inno and the others managed to spot them on time to prepare for their attack. However, the attack never came. Both sides found themselves frozen in place. "What @#$% happened?!?" complained Reno. "It's a stop spell. Someone must of cast it on us when we were distracted with each other." Aeris stated. "A brilliant and obvious deduction, my dear Cetra." spoke Sephiroth from above. Aeris, with a lot of effort, managed to turn enough to see him. He was standing next to a huge crystal that seemed to hold the original body. In his hand, he held the black materia. "Well, I only though I would get to kill the you and the Host. It seems I have an added bonus." he mused with a grin. He walked over to his original body, confident of their victory. As he started to put the black materia thru thought to himself, [Mother, victory is ours. We have URK!] His thoughts were interrupted as he felt a hand choking him. His own. "You? It cannot be!" "I said that I would protect her and I will" he stated as he stepped out of the crystal tightening his grip around his neck. Sephiroth had been taken off guard by his 'little brother'. "You might have killed Gabriel, but I will not die as easily." Tightening his grip once more, he forced Sephiroth to drop not only his sword, but also the materia. The black stone fell from their ledge, spinning and banging around until it stopped. Right at Inno's feet. Inno suddenly glowed with energy and shattered the spell that binded her. As she reached down a grabbed the materia, her eyes suddenly glazed over. She contemplated the materia for a moment and smiled an evil grin. Holding the materia over her head she started to cast 'Meteor'. When she finished she looked over to Aeris with the same evil smile... and swallowed it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author's Notes: Phew! For a minute there, I though I wasn't going to finish. I came down with a cold and it was really a pain to come up with stuff. Well, I hope what I did goes over better than the last 2 chapters. Just to recap though: Abel and Shin Seph separated at the moment of death. Abel now has a cool weapon, 2 summon materia (Diana and Orin) and a mysterious background to mess around with. Shin Seph went to the original Sephy body. And Inno ate the Black Materia. How's that for plot deviation, huh? :p Seriously, tell me if I mended some of the damage or if I made it worse. I really want to know.